Saw this article on the BBC News Website today where the president of the AA has said that the current pandemic will permenently reduce the demand for public transport and congestion on roads and that money due to be spent on thinsg like roads and HS2 should be spent elsewhere.
Here is the link:
www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-52137968
While I don't disagree that a reduction in cars would be a good thing and that many people don't enjoy their commute I actually don't think everyone will be working from home in future. I think that after this is all over people will want to return to the workplace; because they are lonely at home, because they work better with workmates and their boss about, more support, because for many people working from home is hard, no space for a desk, they struggle to get working or they let the work encroach their personal time. I think even if people did all work from home more often after this it might not mean less cars on the roads as people would see less traffic as a green light to travel by private car. I think you can see this already, my team are mostly working from home but when someone does have to go into the office they drive in rather than take public transport like usual, not just because of infection risk but because for most people driving in a private car is more pleasent and that is before we consider all the occupations who need to drive as part of their employment. The only way to counteract peoples inclination to drive would be to invest massively in public transport making it cheap, reliable and really well connected.
Other wider issues come into play, as I know some on my team have two people trying to work from home in one house or flat where there is barely room for one to work from home is stressful and inefficent. Is everyone going to be given the space for all this new home working, especially as new builds get smaller and smaller.
The impact on relationships is already being felt in so many homes as people are under each others feet. I understand this would be different if we weren't under lockdown as people would still be able to get out and about outside work hours and that its all intensified at the moment. It is still a factor, many people thrive out in the world day to day and our lives apart from our partners and children are all a part of making those relationships work for many people. Childcare might be another issue impacted.
I could go on, as I said I am not in favour of car usage or of having to go into work every day but I do think that this article is wrong and that while it might suit some wealthy successful men in their 50's and 60's to have meetings over zoom from their spacious childfree* homes with studies and seperate dining rooms its unlikely to suit everyone or even a majority of us.
- I don't mean childfree as in no kids but that their kids are more likely to be older or even out of the house.