How Coronavirus pandemic can reshape travel habits for good

As the Coronavirus pandemic has brought urban as well as rural life to a standstill, public sector transport has been facing a tragic meltdown. Recent data shows that Coronavirus hotspot areas saw journeys in public transport drop drastically- 86 per cent in Italy’s Milan and Lombardy, 84 per cent in Madrid, and 54 per cent in New York City metro.

Hyderabad:In history, major global events have shaken the economic system and leaving behind their legacy. In what is evident by now since the outbreak of coronavirus pandemic, the world is again facing a similar crisis leading to a fundamental change in peoples’ habitual actions.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the world is witnessing almost a complete lockdown forcing people to stay indoors- a measure enforced to stymie the spread of the deadly virus through social distancing. This has summarily changed the travel habits of people at large.

Like any other sector, the transport sector has also taken a massive hit across the world. The crisis in the transport sector has not been the usual disruption on the supply side such as road accidents or other industrial actions. This time it is a demand that has forced the transport industry into a recession. The cause for that is the Coronavirus pandemic.

However, when the world emerges from the Coronavirus shock and travel restrictions are lifted, there may be a sudden surge in travel demand, at least in the short term, as people would be wanting to make up for the time lost. But by that time, the world may surface with a different outlook and business as well peoples’ daily actions are changed. Months in lockdown may alter peoples’ commuting habits forever.

Once the battle with Coronavirus is over peoples’ movement, in apparent short-term change, has been restricted apart from very necessary journeys resulting in a steep drop in major forms of travel. Of course, there will be exceptions, such as essential goods and medical supplies. Near empty roads reflect the precipitous fall in private car movements and also reduced numbers of passengers in those cars as people are restricted indoors.

Similarly, as the Coronavirus pandemic has brought urban as well as rural life to a standstill, public sector transport has also been facing the tragic meltdown. Recent data shows that Coronavirus hotspot areas saw journeys in public transport drop drastically- 86 per cent in Italy’s Milan and Lombardy, 84 per cent in Madrid, and 54 per cent in New York City metro.

Airlines and airports are no exceptions; major companies are demanding bailout across the world. Together, all this shows how travel habits will change in the coming times.

Shift in travel pattern

While trips to meet family and friends may remain unchanged in post Coronavirus pandemic world, business trips would certainly be cut. Expensive travel by air appears vulnerable as videoconferencing may replace trips. The Coronavirus outbreak also has enabled ‘remotely working’ environment in almost all sectors.

As witnessed in China, the home delivery option will be thriving which may result in a steady decline of high streets. As people are becoming habitual in maintaining social distance, leisure trips such as going to the cinema, religious congregations or pubs remain uncertain. Whether these will see an uptake of people is changed forever after the Coronavirus pandemic.

This would also result in less air travel, fewer long-distance rail trips as people would remain apprehensive of sharing. Walking, cycling or driver only cabs would find their way into the daily commute system. As people become reluctant to share drives, taxi and minicab business would take the hit as well.

Internet at rescue

It may appear perplexing what all these should mean in the near future. In short-range trips, people might use more private vehicles leading to higher traffic congestion, jams, pollution and social isolation. But to mitigate these adverse effects, people may shift to the internet.

During the ongoing measures to curb the climate crisis, governments may want people to shift to internet-based communications- be it videoconferencing or multimedia meetings- to cut carbon and carbon dioxide emissions. This means long-distance air and train journeys to fall drastically. However, the only concern remains here is the internet bandwidth- whether it can cope up with high demand.

Chance of lifetime

For governments across the world, the Coronavirus pandemic presents a chance of a lifetime. Leaders can run campaigns to inform its citizens which traffic mode would suit them best. As during this pandemic the government proactively maintaining the supply of all essential medical and goods supplies, in the near the future governments can keep up this tactic to provide timely delivery of services to its people.

Coronavirus has exposed the vulnerability of human life. People now know how viral flu can be deadly. This means that people would want a high standard of sanitation. The transport sector also has to assure people that they are maintaining measure as clean compartments, less dense seats, protective screens, better air purifiers and sanitising the carrier often. The Coronavirus pandemic also provides transport service providers with a window in terms of meeting the needs in time of sudden changes.

Like in Bogota, walking and cycling can be encouraged by widening the cycling paths. And if the carrier is less densely seated then convincing people of hassle-free travel and encourage among them public transport such as metro-trains, railways, and buses.