Mobility Matters Daily #77 - Borders, emissions, and accessible coaches
Just the usual randomness from the world of transport
COVID-19 and the Future of Borders
The continual re-emergence of strands of COVID-19 that continue to spread globally means that border policy continues to be questioned. The evidence from the National Insitute of Health and the Royal Society shows that the impact of border controls on COVID spread are poorly understood. But what is even more poorly understood is the impact on border policy, and consequently travel.
The general trend over the last 30 years has been towards the liberalisation of trade and increasingly the movement of people. Work by the European Central Bank shows that the consequent liberalisation of air travel stimulates a growth in air passengers, and in Asia-Pacific countries with more restrictive border policies see slower growth. But with a rise in populist policies to close borders being countered by scientific collaboration and technology breaking down borders, the IMD states that the future of our borders, and air travel is more uncertain than ever. I tend to agree.
The International Transport Forum says that transport emissions will rise 15% by 2050, unless we do something radical
The annual Transport Outlook produced by the International Transport Forum is always good value to read if your outlook is global. But this one is not pretty for the environment. In summary, whilst branded as ambitious, current policies to reduce carbon emissions…will actually increase them. What is driving this is one thing: more travelling.
Its the great taboo of transport planning. Planning to reduce trips does not even enter into our thinking. David Banister ably stated this point in 1997 that we cannot continue on a path of growth in trips. We have known since the 1970s through concepts like travel time budgets that an individual’s ability to travel is finite. But I have yet to see serious policy proposals that state that the number of personal trips needs to come down. Yet it is clearly important for achieving climate goals.
Come on, public transport, you have had long enough to become accessible
I noticed recently in Local Transport Today that coach operators are unhappy at the uncertainty over extending an exemption to accessibility regulations passed in 2000 for some coach services. To which i shake my head, and ask the honest question - really??
Its been 26 years since the Disability Discrimination Act. These regulations you are requesting exemptions on are 21 years old. This is not good enough any more. Time to stop delaying, time to start doing for once. You have had long enough.