In short: home working is complicated and we approach policy development in the same way, no matter how we do it

Good day my good friend.

Another short and snappy one today. Things to do and people to see after all. I hope that you like it.

James

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Nearly 2 years in, where are we in terms of home working?

The Centre for Cities has been doing some excellent research over the course of the pandemic in terms of how city centres have been recovering from the effects of COVID-19. The results are highly variable to say the least. They recently ran an event where they explored some of these trends in more detail, with the key conclusions being that there are more people back in the office, and there is greater flexibility being sought in terms of office accomodation.

This points to a mixed picture in terms of the returning to work, which is a far cry from the certainty of some commentators. We are seeing an uncertainty play out in real time, and whilst there is data that something is happening and that its impacts on modal choices is being felt, whether this is a change that will stick is very much open for debate. Anyone fancy a bet?

A new, old way of thinking about policy development

A very interesting paper published by Argwal et al articulates an approach to the development of policy that is often delivered in transport planning, but rarely articulated. That is in terms of identifying the policy problem and then developing the solution accordingly through a process of feedback and implementation. In some respects, it starts from the same place as service design in policy making, but utilises different methods to achieve the end goal.

I am always amazed at the variety of ways people think up ideas for something that, at its core, does the same thing. Sadly, policy is usually reactionary, so the first approach is to identify the problem, then go through a process to identify the solution, create that solution, and monitor its impacts. Only the middle bit differs. Here is another one to add to the mix: policy is about delivery.

Random things

You know the drill by now, surely?

• Nissan to invest $17.6 billion in EV development over the next five years (TechCrunch)

• Rural Leaders Fear They’ll Miss Out on Infrastructure Money (The Daily Yonder)

• Hampstead’s heaven: 150 years of the Heath (Financial Times)

• Winning hearts and minds for decent, affordable housing (Joseph Rowntree Foundation)

• The Lesson Moby-Dick Has for a Warming World (Counterpunch)

Interesting things

This is a brilliant video by the Fully Charged Show on particulate matter from vehicle tyres.

If you do nothing else today, do this…

Read the Shared Use Mobility Center’s report on how to integrate micromobility with public transport.