How cities are tackling falling public transport use

Traffic on an expressway in Brittany: Private vehicles seem to be the preferred choice for fall 2021, both for commuting and for travel. Photo: AFP

For many, fall 2021 marks the beginning of a kind of "new normal". After months of Covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions, remote activities and homeworking, things are slowly getting back on track in regions of the world where the virus remains under control. And with that, comes the return of traffic congestion.

Road traffic is getting back to pre-pandemic levels, and is even exceeding normal averages. According to the American City and County website, drivers in Israel and Australia drove at least 20% more miles in August than before the pandemic.