The Road Less Traveled: Insights on Motoring in the New Normal featuring James Deakin
The Covid-19 pandemic has imposed lasting changes in numerous aspects of our daily lives, and traveling on the road is no exception. As the lockdown restrictions gradually ease, motorists find themselves facing new challenges on the road.
JCI Senate Manila invited renowned automotive journalist James Deakin as special guest on a talk called The Road Less Traveled, to share his professional insights on what life will be like for motorists after the lockdown. The talk, which took place in September 2020, came precisely around the time when businesses were opening up and people were starting to go out again.
A key topic that was discussed was public transportation. “It was already a problem even before Covid. It was something that we’d been all hoping would be not just improved but revolutionized,” Deakin said of the country’s public transport. “We’re way behind the rest of the world there… the majority of our economic development was hampered by traffic.”
Deakin also pointed out that any meaningful change will have to go beyond policies and protocols made for the sake of appearances. “It’s not really always about policy, it’s about the culture. Are we willing to actually accept these new ideas or not?” he said. He cited as an example bike lanes being implemented for the sake of compliance, but are too poorly designed to be properly utilized by bikers.
On the subject of motorcycles—and their rising numbers on the streets of Metro Manila—Deakin believes that the barrier of entry should be raised in terms of safety, not necessarily cost. “I don’t feel it’s fair to restrict people by making it more expensive through taxes… these are things that just create a bigger divide between the communities. You’re not solving anything, you’re creating more problems.” He suggested instead to require proper training courses before allowing one to get a motorcycle.
The automotive industry was also discussed, with Deakin pointing out that the Philippines is, as things are currently, not as appealing as its Asian neighbors to potential investors. He pointed out factors such as power cost and labor policies making the country a less viable choice for car manufacturers.
The Road Less Traveled: Insights on Motoring in the New Normal featuring James Deakin
The Covid-19 pandemic has imposed lasting changes in numerous aspects of our daily lives, and traveling on the road is no exception. As the lockdown restrictions gradually ease, motorists find themselves facing new challenges on the road.
JCI Senate Manila invited renowned automotive journalist James Deakin as special guest on a talk called The Road Less Traveled, to share his professional insights on what life will be like for motorists after the lockdown. The talk, which took place in September 2020, came precisely around the time when businesses were opening up and people were starting to go out again.
A key topic that was discussed was public transportation. “It was already a problem even before Covid. It was something that we’d been all hoping would be not just improved but revolutionized,” Deakin said of the country’s public transport. “We’re way behind the rest of the world there… the majority of our economic development was hampered by traffic.”
Deakin also pointed out that any meaningful change will have to go beyond policies and protocols made for the sake of appearances. “It’s not really always about policy, it’s about the culture. Are we willing to actually accept these new ideas or not?” he said. He cited as an example bike lanes being implemented for the sake of compliance, but are too poorly designed to be properly utilized by bikers.
On the subject of motorcycles—and their rising numbers on the streets of Metro Manila—Deakin believes that the barrier of entry should be raised in terms of safety, not necessarily cost. “I don’t feel it’s fair to restrict people by making it more expensive through taxes… these are things that just create a bigger divide between the communities. You’re not solving anything, you’re creating more problems.” He suggested instead to require proper training courses before allowing one to get a motorcycle.
The automotive industry was also discussed, with Deakin pointing out that the Philippines is, as things are currently, not as appealing as its Asian neighbors to potential investors. He pointed out factors such as power cost and labor policies making the country a less viable choice for car manufacturers.
