What: Commuting patterns are changing, which in turn pushes transportation authorities to change their approach.

Why it is important:  Being at the heart of cities, department stores need to carefully follow the decisions taken in terms of public transportation offering to local citizens and adapt: product offer, opening times, and capability to sell by distance.

A new subway line has opened in London, however, The Economist mentions that this might not be the biggest news when it comes to public transportation in London: since last September, usage of public transport has not changed, the metro is used at ¾ of its 2019 levels, and buses at four-fifths.

It seems that in England, customers have stopped using powered transport, especially during weekdays, suggesting that people are more reluctant to go to work than to go shopping or drinking (rush hour has declined most). This change of habit is not related to contamination fears: they feel safe, but simply do not wish to travel for work.

The ones who are fortunate enough not to have to travel for work (white collar workers) are deserting subways, while the ones that can not have to commute (buses).

As a consequence, some cities are adapting and scrapping plans to expand their urban travel networks or changing their timetables, potentially creating a vicious circle, which, by worsening the service, will convince even more people to change their travel habits.

The future of public transport in the UK