Mobility Matters Daily #185 - More Net Zero, truck stops, and bus consolidation
With a map showing how your flights will get more turbulent
Good day my good friend.
I warn you now. There is a large picture of a clown in this post. Other than that, here are the links curated especially for you.
James
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The reaction to the UK’s Net Zero Plan and it’s transport bits is…mixed
The UK Government’s Net Zero Strategy was published recently. I gave my initial thoughts on the strategy the other day, but the reaction to it has been slowly coming in. It’s fair to say that it is mixed.
The reaction from many quarters can best be described as ‘really - more car journeys?’ Although some now feel that road pricing is an inevitable consequence of further electrification of vehicles (I happen to agree). There is a general sense that the plan lacks detail, and more is needed to truly decarbonise.
If you want the price of your house to grow, live close to a truck stop
In recent weeks, facilities for lorry drivers have come into sharp focus here in the UK (in short, if you provided more than what are basically sheds by the side of motorways, more people might take up driving). But a challenge often posed is a classic transport problem - NIMBYism. I mean, who wants lorry drivers driving lorries and generally acting uncouth when you are trying to entertain the Wingworth-Stanley’s from number 42?
New research from the USA reveals that if the value of your home is a regular topic of conversation in your social circles, having a few lines of Eddie Stobart trailers may be a good thing. They concluded that:
Significant benefits to local land values were found: every 1% increase in distance from a [truck] parking facility was associated with a 0.284% decrease in land values, which corresponds to a $2,465/acre reduction in value for an average parcel.
Further consolidation is taking place in public transport
FlixMobility appears to making its move into actually delivering transport services, purchasing the iconic Greyhound bus brand from First. While this move makes a lot of sense for them if they want to expand into North America (suggestion: don’t do what First did), this appears to be part of an emerging trend in public transport towards further consolidation.
National Express asked for more time from the UK regulator to progress its takeover of Stagecoach. More groups are pulling out of the UK rail market. Whilst one swallow does not make a summer, against the background of struggling passenger demand and a struggle to engage in the BSIP and EP processes, one cannot help but feel like further consolidation is on the cards.
Random things
Some random articles found whilst looking in the corners of the Internet that you may find interesting.
A Drone Will Rescue Three Dogs Trapped by La Palma Volcanic Eruption (Gizmodo)
Tesla says new factories will need time to ramp up, posts record revenue (Reuters)
New Leeds transport strategy slammed as 'unrealistic' by council opposition (Yorkshire Post)
Uber tests shared rides in Africa as UberPool stays shut in US, Canada (TechCrunch)
Interesting things
This cool map comes from Atlas of the Invisible. A great book that attempts to visualise climate change. It looks like TransAtlantic flights will become much bumpier.
If you do nothing else today, do this
This is something out of the ordinary. COVID-dependant, I’d love to organise a small newsletter get together before Christmas. Nothing fancy. Just a few drinks after work in a pub somewhere. Probably in London (sorry everyone not in the UK). If you are interested, email me!