Navigating the new normal for transport in a Covid-19 world

On Thursday 4th June 2020, WA Communications’ Transport team hosted a webinar entitled ‘Navigating the new normal for transport in a Covid-19 world’.

In the last two months alone, the government has all but shut down public transport, bailed out the rail and bus industries, significantly accelerated its active travel plans and is now tasked with restructuring the UK’s transport infrastructure to manage Covid-19 and its continuing fallout.

Chaired by Marc Woolfson, WA’s public affairs Director, the webinar explored what this revolution in approach to transport policy means for industry and what solutions government might reach for.

The panel was comprised of:

• Robert Largan MP talked about the Committee’s current work and its future priorities as the lockdown restrictions start to ease.
• Adrian Warren, Chair, Cycle to Work Alliance; bicycle manufacturers and shops across the UK have reported a boom in demand, and many expect a further increase in sales as people consider resuming journeys to work when restrictions ease.
• Tanya Sinclair, Head of Partnerships, ChargePoint; with falling oil prices and moves away from using public transport, owning a private, internal combustion engine vehicle has never been so attractive. Could this mean the 2035 target is under threat and if so, how do we ensure charging infrastructure that provides easy and affordable access when it is needed is in place?
• Daniel Ruiz, CEO, Zenzic; created by government and industry to focus on key areas of UK capability in the global connected and self-driving sector. Megatrends like self-driving vehicles can now finally be brought into the conversation about as a potential solution to the new normal for transport.
• Emily James, Head of Public Affairs, Abellio Group; Public transport will inevitably take a hit from reduced passengers once the restrictions start to ease, but will remain an important part of the puzzle and always preferable to people using their own vehicles, increasing congestion and pollution.

Watch a recording of the webinar: