“We need to look hard at the future of our transport system and Covid-19 has accelerated the scrutiny of the status quo.”
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If people have to try something else and they like it after a period, then that becomes the new norm:
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And with people having to get around very differently in the current situation, maybe habits are changing.
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The Telegraph today reports on how “we’ve seen the role that e-scooters and bicycles have had in providing transport to key workers across the UK, helping them avoid public transport where risk of transmission is much higher.”
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Millionaire father of McLaren F1 ace plots electric bike revolution with rescue of Halfords shops
The millionaire father of Formula One ace Lando Norris has saved 11 cycle stores owned by Halfords, with the intention of selling electric scooters and bikes. More than 80 jobs have been saved after Adam Norris, a former director at online broker Hargreaves Lansdown, bought the shops as a springboard for retailer Pure Electric.
Mr Norris, who has an estimated fortune of more than £200m, launched Pure Scooters a year ago after seeing their popularity on the Continent. The Glastonbury-based investor also believes electric bikes will grow in popularity in the coming years.
Mr Norris said: “We need to look hard at the future of our transport system and Covid-19 has accelerated the scrutiny of the status quo. The world of mobility is moving incredibly fast and we’re absolutely committed to being at the forefront of this exciting sector by opening prime city-centre locations. Our products have the potential to have a huge positive impact on our transport system. Recently, we’ve seen the role that e-scooters and bicycles have had in providing transport to key workers across the UK, helping them avoid public transport where risk of transmission is much higher.”
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It comes as “the Transport Committee launches an inquiry to explore the safety and legal implications of electric scooters, their impact on congestion, and potential contribution to reducing the UK’s greenhouse gas emissions, ahead of the Government’s obligations to reach net zero by 2050.”
e-scooters inquiry launched | parliament.uk
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Meanwhile in Sidmouth, with roads being less busy, it has been safer and more pleasant to go cycling – the question being whether these new-found habits will stick…