In short: we know, its going to change, and we need to do more

Good day my good friend.

Is there a bingo call for 222? Three little ducks perhaps? Regardless, this is another quick intro, so lets get to the links.

James

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Someone has to state the obvious on electric vehicles

It would seem that barely a week goes by without someone writing an article about electric vehicles are not the panacea to transport’s problems. The latest is in CityFix building upon other articles over the months. To which the obvious needs stating: of course. We know that. Don’t tell transport planners that, as we know electric vehicles are only part of the solution (and they are part of it). We are not the people you need to tell.

Meanwhile, in the world of people doing something that is actually meaningful on this, the Department for Transport has published a consultation response on its plans for every new home to have a charging point. The new standards actually make some sense, and appear to be quite reasonable. I sense a national car parking standard coming on.

COVID-19 is likely to mean that the future of the commute will be messy

With the movement into restrictions associated with Plan B already reducing the number of people on public transport, as part of the scenario planning for many authorities one question looms large: what is the future of the commute? These questions are heavily tied to the future of work (hello: derived demand and everything) and whether COVID has simply accelerated pre-existing trends.

Personally, I highly recommend that transport planners understand their local labour market. As the experience of different types of jobs and professions vary significantly. This post on the experience of call centre workers during lockdown is certainly hugely different to many of us in typical office jobs. Also, it doesn’t work for everyone. So take time to understand your labour market beyond where they commute to and from.

Good infrastructure planning is about the right skills, and the right mix of people. Transport has been getting better, but more needs doing.

The Department for Transport seem to have gone on a publishing spree before the Transport Secretary signs off for Christmas. But this report on Enhancing Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion for infrastructure really highlights some of the challenges. While up-skilling people is easy, making the sector more diverse is a much harder nut to crack. The insight that stuck with me was this:

Women in the sector also found that working arrangements were often inflexible, compared to other sectors, leading to a “leaky talent pipeline” of women leaving the sector early.

I wish I could say I was shocked by this. I wish I could say I was shocked by all the findings. Sadly I am not. Of course much has been done, but more still needs doing.

Random things

All the random things you could want

• Polish cities: Collaboration and innovation shape Kraków’s future (City Monitor)

• Edinburgh council want Scottish Government to make trams free for under 22s (Edinburgh Live)

• Study on sustainable transport connections with Central Asia (MaaS Alliance)

• Hey, Facebook, I Made a Metaverse 27 Years Ago (The Atlantic)

• Vladimir Putin says he drove a taxi after the fall of the Soviet Union (DW)

Interesting things

A great idea, that should be done in more places. Find out about it in 60 seconds.

If you do nothing else today, then do this

Read this research article on the unequal cycling boom in Germany.