The lockdown caused a dramatic reduction in travel demand, especially for vehicle and public transport trips. But as lockdowns ease, travel demand by all modes in England rose this week, and car traffic volumes have started to climb from the low point seen between late March and mid-April, according to data released by the Department for Transport. 

But, if we act in time, could a permanent change to more sustainable travel demand strategies be locked in permanently?

The DfT has allocated £250m to local authorities in England to 'cement cycling and walking habits'. It expects that work will begin 'at pace' on making space for physically distancing and walking, widening pavements, closing roads to through traffic and installing segregated cycle lanes.

The transport sector needs to understand the rapid changes taking place in the attitudes of transport users and the implications for their future travel choices, and how to lock in the emergency changes requested by the DfT over the long-term.

Local authorities also need to respond to the use of different travel modes by different people, and by workers in different sectors of the economy, at different times during the day as physical distancing becomes an established pattern. 

This webinar will explore: