The traffic and parking sector has played a central role in the response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Towns and cities across the UK implemented an impressive range of emergency traffic and street-scene measures, including pop-up cycleways and wider pavements to make cycling and walking safer, while supporting the logistics sector in maintaining essential supplies and services.

 

Meanwhile, the parking sector enabled the NHS Test & Trace programme by hosting drive-through testing centres. The sector also ensured key workers from the NHS and care sectors were able to access free parking.

 

Moving forward, the traffic and parking sector is playing a vital role in enabling the recovery, helping the public safely access retail, leisure and education services are opened up. From touchless payment and the pre-booking of spaces, online deliveries for homeworkers, and the sensitive enforcement of fines and debts, many of the new ways of working adopted during the lockdowns will become commonplace as society reopens and the economy restarts.

 

The pandemic encouraged an openness to new ways of working and shopping. This means politicians, planners, businesses and the public are receptive to an acceleration in the adoption of electric motoring, clean air schemes, the smarter use of data, active travel and the adoption of shared and micro-mobility services.

 

Revolution will be the new normal.