- Allows e-receipts to be directly posted to employee accounts for all ground transportation.
- Auto-matching of e-receipts for seamless expensing & reimbursement.
- Every ride is fully validated before payment, reducing incorrect charges and enhancing the payment process
Thought Leaders Share Where Mobility Is Heading Post-Pandemic
March 9, 2022
Over the past two years of the pandemic, the world of mobility and transportation changed irrevocably. For the better, and the worse. Our commute suddenly shrank to the distance between our bedroom and our workstation-in-the-kitchen. This led to a drastic decline in congestion and air pollution. And yet, for many essential workers, the move to remote working was and still is, not an option. For those who need to be physically present at the workplace (think: factory workers, pharma operations, nurse and doctors, manufacturers) newfound challenges emerged due to limited transportation alongside COVID-19 concerns.
At this turning point with business travel bouncing back and offices reopening, we sat down with leading industry experts to discuss how much of the pandemic’s impact is here to stay, and the lessons learned to ensure access to safe, reliable, and sustainable transportation options for all.
Contributing Thought Leaders
- Harry Campbell – Founder & CEO, Rideshare Guy
- Jeff LaFave – Managing Director, HQ
- Susan Shaheen – Civil & Environmental Engineering Professor, Transportation Sustainability Research Center, UC Berkeley
- Andrea Learned – Founder of Learned On
- Scott Shepard – Chief Commercial & Product Officer, Asistobe AS
Harry Campbell, Rideshare Guy
What gaps in transportation did the pandemic highlight that we need to address?
“The biggest gap in transportation that the pandemic highlighted is accessibility to reliable transportation. While many buses were still running throughout most cities in the pandemic, people were afraid about how clean they were, as well as the typical concerns about their reliability. More people returned to cars or advocated for better access to rideshare, but we know that’s not a long-term solution. The major lessons learned are that we need more options in transportation beyond buses – thinking outside the box to light rail, micro-mobility, and more access to safe sidewalks.”
“Long commute times are one of the major reasons for worker dissatisfaction, and companies may benefit from workers who are able to leave their homes at a reasonable time and not arrive stressed out from a harrowing commute.”
In what ways will the effective management of space for mobility, public enjoyment, public health & safety as well as economic prosperity, become ever more critical to cities in the post-Covid-19 world?
“One thing we saw during the pandemic, in almost every city at one point during pandemic lockdowns, was greater demand for sidewalk/curb space in the form of outdoor patios at restaurants and outdoor events. This will be a hallmark of the post-COVID-19 world: people want to enjoy their cities, but they want to do it safely (usually outdoors) when the weather’s nice. One thing cities have been slow to adapt to is this demand for curb space, but some cities are taking innovative steps to reduce congestion at the curb, in terms of vehicles, and make them more accessible for restaurants and pedestrians. This will end up being a net benefit to all and one of the reasons why we launched the Curbivore conference.”
With employees returning to the office this spring, what role do you believe hybrid-model and office environment plays in our professional lives, and what does this mean for the traditional commute?
“We saw a big reduction in traffic and congestion in many major cities when pandemic lockdowns were enforced, and it was hard to find anyone who complained about this sudden but major decrease in traffic and gridlock. Long commute times are one of the major reasons for worker dissatisfaction, and companies may benefit from workers who are able to leave their homes at a reasonable time and not arrive stressed out from a harrowing commute. In these cases, more workers may embrace carpooling, Express Rides, and other options already available in some major cities because they won’t see them as burdens adding on to their commute, but rather a time to relax and not worry about driving.”
Do you believe the preference for solo riders and the private car will remain, or will it revert to pre-pandemic behavior?
“There will always be demand for solo rides and private cars – the pandemic may have exacerbated demand and while demand may abate to a degree, it will never go away. It remains to be seen if it will remain higher than pre-pandemic levels – a lot of this is determined by how expensive private cars are for the majority of users and how much passengers are willing to pay for the convenience. For city planners, they may need to look at ways where city streets can accommodate pickups and dropoffs without taking valuable curb space and adding to congestion.”
Jeff LaFave, HQ
What gaps in transportation did the pandemic highlight that we need to address?
“COVID-19 created a generational impact on business travelers including a new set of criteria as to whether, when, and how to travel. Where previously convenience was the primary factor in choosing mobility options, the pandemic highlighted significant gaps and issues and propelled significant changes in corporate mobility.
“Whether it is health & wellness, quality of service, sustainability impact, or even when corporate mobility services should be taken, there is no question that passengers and the companies they work for are now thinking differently about ground transportation”
With the impact of the pandemic on the supply side of the market, the result is that both mobility providers and passengers now face an entirely different demand structure in terms of quantity, ability, willingness, price, and timeliness. Prior to the pandemic, the rideshare phenomenon made convenience much more important. COVID-19 changed this once again as rideshare is no longer an inexpensive option and there are not enough drivers to meet the current and increasing demand. Passengers are now much more concerned than ever before regarding health and safety.
For traditional private car hire companies – black car, limousine – the economic impact of the pandemic has put many companies out of business, forcing mergers & acquisitions, and at best, having the others in a precarious position. With many professional drivers leaving the industry for good, combined with the shortages of both new and used vehicles, current demand is, and will for some time, outstrip supply. This is leading to significant price increases and challenging the ability of operators to provide appropriate service to their customers.
The pandemic seems to have created a fundamental change of perspective regarding transportation. We have seen the “Great Resignation” and the “Great Retirement” impact usage patterns as well as the use of and demand for more environmentally friendly transportation options.”
With employees returning to the office this spring, what role do you believe hybrid-model and office environment plays in our professional lives, and what does this mean for the traditional commute?
“Many companies both large and small are asking their employees to come back to the office as many of them see in-person collaboration between individuals and teams as a critical element of their work. At the same time, the pandemic has taught organizations that the traditional “full time in the office” is not necessary and there are advantages in allowing employees to work a hybrid model between work at home and work at the office. This certainly allows greater flexibility for employees, allows them to reduce their average weekly commute time and commutation costs, and increases their job satisfaction. At the same time, it adds some complexity to corporations in managing workspace, right-sizing offices and locations, ensuring the right work is done at the right time and in the right way, and other such challenges.
All these results in both the company and the employee reevaluating how people get to the office. From the employee perspective, we will likely see some people reevaluate their need to own an automobile (or reduce the number they own) and instead take an alternative form of transportation to work since it now will be fewer days per week. For others they may similarly consider taking non-public forms of transportation as overall costs with fewer days commuting may change and rebalance the cost, convenience, safety selection criteria for them. For companies, attracting more employees to return to the office – using a carrot instead of a stick -may mean offering company-paid mobility options or reimbursement.
The changes we will see will certainly vary from employee to employee, company to company, and even city to city based on a number of interacting factors including sustainability as well as health, wellness, and safety. Given this, we expect to see greater use of corporate mobility solutions in lieu of employees driving themselves or taking public transportation. These will likely include greater use of the taxi, car service, and rideshare options and in some locations even micro-mobility services in particular as more environmentally friendly services become available.”
Susan Shaheen, UC Berkeley
What gaps in transportation did the pandemic highlight that we need to address?
“The pandemic highlights the need to expand access to employment, education, goods, and services for all, and particularly underserved populations. For example, there have been challenges with low-income households accessing the types of jobs that can be worked remotely, lack of high-speed internet at home, and challenges accessing remote learning. Additionally, public transit service cuts have also created additional challenges for carless households. There’s the critical need to emphasize transportation as well as bandwidth challenges among underserved communities.”
“There’s the critical need to emphasize transportation as well as bandwidth challenges among underserved communities.”
Do you believe corporate travel, especially international travel, should be considered a perk or will there be a growing preference for video conferencing and virtual meetings?
“Historically, long-distance travel has become more affordable for a larger segment of society, and cross-cultural interactions have helped build a global community. Whether video conferencing or virtual meetings replace travel will vary depending on the specific circumstance. It is important to note that virtual meetings are very different from in-person engagement. There will still be a need to travel.”
Do you believe corporate travel, especially international travel, should be considered a perk or will there be a growing preference for video conferencing and virtual meetings?
“We view travel as a right because it is critical to access healthcare, jobs, groceries, and other key services. In some cases, the need to travel can be replaced through deliveries and online access; however, this is not always the case. It is important to support public transportation to ensure that access and mobility are available for all travelers.”
In what ways will the effective management of space for mobility, public enjoyment, public health & safety as well as economic prosperity, become ever more critical to cities in the post-Covid-19 world?
“The pandemic has changed how the curb is used. We are seeing more outdoor uses such as dining, curbside pick-up, and delivery in addition to shared mobility, micro-mobility, and public transportation. These trends and the growing number of curb space use are something that is not likely to reverse, particularly with automation (e.g., drones and driverless vehicles) into the future. Effective multi-use curb space management will be important moving forward.”
Do you believe the preference for solo riders and the private car will remain, or will it revert to pre-pandemic behavior?
“We do not really know. This depends on what happens with the pandemic and public transit. If people can safely be with others in close proximity and public transportation is able to recover, pooling and transit could return to pre-pandemic levels over time. Alternatively, pooling and public transit may not be as critical post-pandemic, if a sizable percentage of the population continues to work from home and land uses change (e.g., employers move out of cities and are more decentralized).”
With employees returning to the office this spring, what role do you believe hybrid-model and office environment plays in our professional lives, and what does this mean for the traditional commute?
“Hybrid work environments and telework/work-from-home could have the potential to reduce the number of commute trips, length of trips, and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. However, more research is needed. There is some anecdotal evidence to suggest that remote work is causing some people to live farther from their employers. Hybrid work is likely changing commute behavior, reducing traditional peak congestion periods, and making congestion overall less predictable until the “next” normal becomes more clear.”
Do you think the dramatic declines in carbon emissions and urban smog witnessed during COVID-19 will lead to more meaningful changes in attitudes towards the climate crisis? Or will all habits return to normal?
“We are starting to see travel beginning to return to pre-pandemic behaviors. The question going forward is how can we use strategies such as working from home to help reduce GHG emissions. In the future, additional policies, such as pricing (road charge, parking, etc.) will likely be needed to encourage more sustainable behaviors.”
Scott Shepard, Asistobe AS
What gaps in transportation did the pandemic highlight that we need to address?
“The pandemic exposed the weaknesses of the unsustainable mobility and land use patterns that have been commonplace in most global cities since the Second World War. That is an overreliance on single-car ownership and ever-lengthening daily work commutes. The pandemic served as a break, pausing all local, regional and global movements (at least temporarily) and serving as an opportunity to work from home.
While there has been a return to the office, and accommodation for blended and hybrid work schedules, the lessons learned are that the old way of doing business no longer applies. Given advances in technology, broadband, and digital infrastructure, individuals now have the option to seek a more optimal work-life balance, while promoting decarbonization and decreased urban congestion.”
“Corporate international travel for activities outside of conferences and trade shows can be seen going forward as more of a perk than a necessity.”
Do you believe corporate travel, especially international travel, should be considered a perk or will there be a growing preference for video conferencing and virtual meetings?
“Corporate travel will be further scrutinized in the years ahead and complemented more increasingly by conferencing and virtual meetings. While international conferences and trade shows have seen a healthy recovery in 2021-22, general client business travel (including international) has not fully recovered and I’m not convinced we’ll see the same level of activity in the space as pre-pandemic, circa 2019. Therefore, corporate international travel for activities outside of conferences and trade shows can be seen going forward as more of a perk than a necessity.”
With employees returning to the office this spring, what role do you believe hybrid-model and office environment plays in our professional lives, and what does this mean for the traditional commute?
“The hybrid model is the perfect example of an adaptation of using existing technologies and infrastructure to accommodate a global public health crisis for professional needs. By pivoting towards shared spaces, co-working modes, and “third offices” in conjunction with the home office model, we are seeing a menu of options that are being offered by employers and corporations to employees to fix their flex schedule and strike a better work-life balance. As a result, we are seeing huge shifts in daily commuting patterns, with an elimination of the dual peak commutes, and more of a blend of shorter trips taken more consistently throughout the day. What this means is less of a reliance on traditional transport modes (public transport and commuter rail) to handle the morning and evening commute rush between suburbs and central business districts, and instead of a reconfiguration of local and on-demand feeder services that provide more consistent access throughout the day, with a focus on short to medium trips.”
Do you believe corporate travel, especially international travel, should be considered a perk or will there be a growing preference for video conferencing and virtual meetings?
“Travel is indeed a right post-pandemic, but the recovery is unequal and unevenly distributed. As we emerge from the pandemic into endemic phases of COVID, more nations will begin to loosen their restrictions and facilitate international movement. Therefore, incrementally we’ll begin to see a recovery across leisure (and business) travel. However, in the interim phase for the next two years, it may appear on the outside to be unequal. However my prediction is travel will remain a right but will have a greater emphasis on leisure or necessities, and business activities will be prioritized based upon individual, organization, and or corporate policy.”
Andrea Learned, Learned On
What gaps in transportation did the pandemic highlight that we need to address?
“The almost overnight reduction in air pollution due to lower traffic and lower carbon emissions (in the U.S.) was stunning. Car use for short trips is back up to pre-pandemic levels (or more), I believe, and yet we all know that transportation emissions are a massive opportunity to address climate change. We saw the solution, in stark terms, and leaders are just lazily letting our car culture return. Cities and states have the tool to drop emissions, by forwarding more walk, bike/eBike, and transit. Why aren’t they leveraging it quickly? We also learned that transit and accessibility to transportation are critical for so many essential workers, and we failed miserably at serving them when bus routes were canceled, etc.”
“When citizens see leaders “walking the talk” they will trust that policies to help them, too, walk, bike, and take transit, will follow and be continually supported.”
Do you believe corporate travel, especially international travel, should be considered a perk or will there be a growing preference for video conferencing and virtual meetings?
“From my perspective on the ways corporations could influence climate action, there should be much more recognition of carbon emissions that can be resolved by making a policy about their balance of flying versus virtual meetings. Shrink the number of events even your CEO will fly to – and do strategic communications about why and how they made that decision. Change the social norm in CEO travel patterns. Be the change your corporate peers need you to be.”
Do you believe corporate travel, especially international travel, should be considered a perk or will there be a growing preference for video conferencing and virtual meetings?
“Travel does not feel like a right anymore. It’s a privilege for the affluent. It’s a cultural disease. If the privileged scaled back their willingness to pay top dollar to fly etc. and addressed their personal carbon emissions footprint, we could start to build a just transition and promote better ways and a different way of thinking about travel for the masses. More, and faster, trains at reasonable prices, less cross-country and international travel, less of a focus on serving high ticket business travel needs.”
In what ways will the effective management of space for mobility, public enjoyment, public health & safety as well as economic prosperity, become ever more critical to cities in the post-Covid-19 world?
“What we learned during the pandemic is that people love micro-mobility options, and they want to socially interact in public spaces, etc. Getting them outside of their individual vehicles also meant they could stop into many more local businesses. If we reframe expectations for success and what living in a city means (no more car ads showing empty streets as a luxury vehicle speeds through the streets), it will hugely benefit our climate concerns too. Transportation emissions need to go way down. A tech solution cannot be what we rely on to counter it.”
Do you believe the preference for solo riders and the private car will remain, or will it revert to pre-pandemic behavior?
“Unless cities do a better job supporting a “less car” solution with better infrastructure and safe streets, the bad habit people have picked up in locking themselves into private cars will continue. It’s a culture and a shift that CAN be changed with wise messaging campaigns. That’s one of my areas of advising: advising more corporate and city leaders to be seen riding transit, riding an e-bike, or walking their own city streets. When citizens see leaders “walking the talk” they will trust that policies to help them, too, walk, bike, and take transit, will follow and be continually supported. THEN, mass citizen behavior will change…”
Do you think the dramatic declines in carbon emissions and urban smog witnessed during COVID-19 will lead to more meaningful changes in attitudes towards the climate crisis? Or will all habits return to normal?
“I fear politicians and consumers are not taking stock in the amazement we all felt when the cars stopped in that early pandemic moment (that has not lasted) and we could all breathe more easily and hear ourselves think as we took more opportunities to walk and bike our local streets. Leaders must lead, and step back and figure out how to continue to provide ways their cities can keep the clean air they know their citizens love. Citizens have now experienced a moment of clean air and quiet in their cities. This is the time to leverage the experience for a big change.”
