Page 12 - TrafficInfraTech Magazine - Linking People Places & Progres

NEW MOBILITY

Tier-I, II and III cities after lockdown, perfect opportunity to implement Mobility as a service in a
it is mandatory to maintain a higher during this crisis as it requires low post-COVID-19 world
degree of sanitization in addition cost, less human resource intensive,
to the various cosmic changes that easy & quick to implement, scalable MaaS is widely considered a workable
need to be incorporated in how and environment friendly. strategy toward future sustainability,
these systems are operated and even as OEMs watch vehicle sales fall,
maintained. This would entail, The major trends will be (i) but the concept of shared mobility in the
enabling technologies such as ITS, increased reliance on cars and wake of the coronavirus pandemic could
home-grown cashless and touch- private vehicles, and (ii) increased require some fundamental rethinking.
less systems, which reduce human preference for non-motorized Due to various lockdown measures
interaction while operations of public transport (NMT) including walking improvised by the Union and the State
transit systems continue. and cycling. Governments, ride-sharing companies
Public transport entities would The former option can quickly like Ola & Uber have seen a massive
need to encourage e-ticketing/digital become a problem while the latter drop in ridership and have in some cases
payments/common mobility card, offers a potentially significant reportedly suspended driver accounts
contactless access to AFC through QR opportunity for cities to reinvent due to infection concerns. As pandemic
code for the journey and preferably themselves. Non-motorized requires people to stay at home to halt
suspension of cash transactions for transport which runs on zero energy the risk of infection, MaaS providers
ticket purchasing/recharge/ etc. emissions and are the cleanest form need to look at optimizing their assets
These measures would also lead to of transport and it is thus needed in any way they can—if they are not
benefits post COVID-19. to promote and repurpose street transporting people, then their vehicles
space towards walking and cycling can used to transport goods or medical
Creation and Promotion to provide a safer alternative during supplies. The outbreak is expected to
of Non-Motorized the current health situations. The slow down investment in MaaS, as it will
Transportation time is also ripe enough to add more slow down investment in many areas,
but it is anticipated MaaS initiatives
To fend off a resurgence in car space for micromobility users to would rebound quickly in 2021 as cities
and other private vehicle usage, as accommodate more riders and follow re-evaluate their transport strategies.
residents return to work looking social distancing rule. Elevating This needs to be complemented by
to avoid busy public transport, the priority of these modes in this identification and prioritization of
reallocating street space from cars testing times gives travellers another avenues for maximization of non-
to cycling and walking is the need private vehicle alternative, which is fare revenues and developing a
of the hour. As most of the urban clean, safe, secured particularly if it comprehensive plan. This may involve
trips in the country are clocked in is integrated with other modes and a mix of asset monetization and value
under five kilometres, NMT is the affordable for all. capture financing.

12 April-May 2020 / TrafficInfraTech www.trafficinfratech-com-500653.hostingersite.com