Covid-19 and the transportation fundamentals Christopher Job Mukuye, Uganda “Christopher is a 32-year old Ugandan Traffic and Transportation Engineer with a Master’s degree in Transportation Engineering from Kyoto University. He is currently working with Centre for Infrastructure Consulting (CIC) Limited, an all field Engineering Consultancy firm in Uganda. He is very enthusiastic about transportation systems and is currently engaged on the Development of Uganda’s first Non-Motorised Transport Manual as well as playing a backstopping role in the development of Uganda’s Expressway Master Plan”
Economies thrive on two types of activity, labour (human) and capital. Whilst both are important, labour relies on infrastructure such as transportation systems. This renders any transportation system very crucial to any economy and an enabler of economic activity. As part of the preventive measures instituted to combat the fast spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, social distancing and avoidance of mass crowding have been strongly encouraged if not mandated. This, of course includes avoidance or limited use of mass transit public transportation systems (planes, trains, buses, minibus taxis, cruise ships/ferries etc.) resulting in a global drop in public transit usage. But the question is, what does this mean in the context of sustainable transportation systems? It is imperative to note that just like any other balanced system, any decrease in the share of a given transportation mode, would be countered by incremental changes in another mode or modes of transport. Unexpected events such as Covid-19, the 2011 great east Japan earthquake, tsunamis etc all impact transportation systems from all perspectives i.e. planning, mode choice, travel behaviour etc. The major determinants of the operation and usage of post shock transportation systems and resultant travel patterns are part of the lessons to be learnt and should help to form part of the actions taken by governments in an attempt to make transportation systems more resilient. The 1973 oil shocks pushed the US to adapt new national speed limits of 55 mph and a shift was realised from the use of less fuel-efficient vehicles to the use of more fuel-efficient ones and cleaner fuels i . The Netherlands too, revised their speed limits to 65mph and introduced car-free Sundays among other measures. Whilst most countries end up going back to their original status quo, the Netherlands used that opportunity to redesign its road policies to focus on people instead of cars and prioritise the cheapest, quickest and easiest way to get around cities, mostly by bicycles linked to local and regional transitii. Since then, they have been arguably the greenest and healthiest commuters on the planet.
Current situation & coping mechanisms The Covid-19 pandemic has seen governments respond with travel restrictions, various bans, and imposed domestic measures to minimise the spread of the virus. Uganda, for example, has forced residents to stay home, imposed dusk-to-dawn curfews and restricted vehicle movements. Day to day lives have therefore been put on pause, i.e. work, education, shopping, sports events, restaurants, art and culture, entertainment, markets, celebrations, appointments and other errands are now restricted.
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