Helps deliver inclusive economic growth
The third Spotlight session focused on NTS priority Helps Deliver Inclusive Economic Growth. The aims of this Spotlight were to identify and understand:
- Reactions to associations with theme and sub-themes.
- Public messaging around last mile deliveries.
- Reactions and associations with beneficial innovation- in present.
- Reactions and associations with beneficial innovation- for future.
- The importance the participants place on Delivery Areas.
Will Get People and Goods where they Need to Go
NTS explains this outcome as:
Will get people and goods where they need to get to: network and services will be integrated effectively with spatial and land use planning and economic development, and adapt to changing requirements of our citizens, businesses and visitors.”
| Topic | Materials utilised |
|---|---|
| Last mile deliveries | Video - Last Mile deliveries |
Participants were introduced to the concept of last mile deliveries, the final step of the process where a package finally arrives at the buyer’s door (see Table 9). There was limited prior knowledge of this topic and a full explanation was provided to participants.
There were shared experiences of using alternative means to receive a parcel, including retrieving them from lockers within supermarkets and getting them from a local shop.
Local pick-up points feel safer in instances where you know you’re not going to be home to receive your parcel.”
You definitely see an increase in vans but there’s not really a problem with them. The issue is that there’s no local shops and town centres anymore, so you need to shop online.”
There was support to have one method, or one van, to deliver all parcels locally.
The post man used to bring all your parcels. Why not just support the royal mail to deliver more of your parcels since they’re coming to you anyway.”
A couple of participants explained there was no reward for using alternative methods of delivery:
I deliberately don’t do that [use a collection point] because I’m charged the same money to go and get it myself as I am to get it delivered to my house.”
Reactions to the video showing a robot making a last mile delivery were mixed as:
- People were intrigued by the technology.
- The design was not seen as practical given the terrain in Scotland.
- It seemed a long way off for rural participants who struggled to get companies to deliver goods to their area by vans and lorries.
When asked about this aim in the post session survey, participants reflected more on ways goods get around before the last mile stage.
Look at using trains for haulage (reduces road impact and can carry more than an HGV)”
Encouragement to use greener transport such as trains for large goods. Will need infrastructure changes.”
Participants also expressed that there were too many different companies involved in the last mile stage, leading to duplication.
Rationalisation of delivery services would be a start.”
Encourage companies to use Royal Mail as postmen are coming to communities anyway.”
Will be Reliable, Efficient and High Quality
NTS explains this outcome as:
Will be reliable, efficient and high quality: everyone needs to be confident about how long a journey will take, and that it will be a simple and comfortable experience. We will be able to plan our lives, to get to work on time, access education and training, and to deliver goods efficiently and keep businesses running smoothly.”
There was agreement amongst participants that domestic travel is easier in a car because of hard to reach areas. There was also agreement that travel with a family is much easier in a car. Members were aware of their reliance on cars and that there needs to be a shift away from car usage. However, it was felt that, for large families especially, cars are more affordable and give more independence and freedom. There was a demand for transport alternatives to be made more appealing for single people, couples and smaller family groups. Some of the changes suggested included:
· faster and more direct routes
· increased storage space for luggage, including trailers
There is also an appetite for the wider availability of integrated travel, with participants outlining their experience of travel over multiple modes without the availability of integration.
Apps are really usefully for tracking the route you are taking, however if there is more than one mode of transport you cannot currently buy an integrated ticket that covers all of your journey.”
Integrated travel was considered a good idea, but members struggled to understand how it may work in practice given timetabling is an issue across multiple modes. Participants were conscious of the multiple transport providers operating in Scotland and the knock-on effects of one service changing.
In their survey responses, participants emphasised the reliability of public transport as essential for promoting behaviour changes which could then help achieve net-zero targets.
…public transport is sacrificed too easily e.g. strikes by ScotRail on Xmas Eve punishes those who were planning to spend Xmas with family and don't have a car; Sunday service should improve as those who work on a Sunday need to be there prior to the shops opening; get bus and train timetables back to pre-pandemic status ASAP as currently it just indicates those who use it aren't that important and/or shows having a car is easier.”
Several participants mentioned that for services to be improved, government subsidies to transport providers were inevitable.
Participants were not of the view that public transport was reliable, efficient and high quality enough at present. One participant raised the example of procurement of ferries.
Be prepared to make difficult decisions. The ferry situation is a shambles and needs a clear vision and a strong hand to move forward.”
Will use Beneficial Innovation
NTS explains this outcome as:
Will use beneficial innovation: will pioneer and use new products, services and technologies developed from high quality research to improve our transport system. We will secure opportunities and investment for innovation and growth of testing platforms and supply chains to help Scotland be at the forefront of world leading developments in sustainable mobility.”
| Topic | Materials utilised |
|---|---|
| Zero emission transport innovation | Slides |
| Innovation examples | Presentation by Head of Innovation and Acceleration |
Participants were extremely engaged with the discussion on innovation, and their enjoyment of the stimulus materials (see Table 10) was emphasised within their evaluation. Participants were largely supportive of zero emission transport innovation and understood the benefits and the reasons behind innovation. However, some participants thought there was still a long way to go and could not see how new innovation could be incorporated before fundamental changes were made to current public transport systems.
I think we have to get things sorted here and now before we can really buy into what’s going to happen down the line. I live in Glasgow, and they can’t get bus drivers. I’m lucky, my service was once every ten minutes however, due to shortages, I’m lucky if it turns up once an hour.”
There was an appetite for more information about renewable energy sources, in particular hydrogen and electric power sources. Participants had a perception that hydrogen may be underexplored and would be interested to know more about the production stage.
Participants expressed worry about the time it takes to charge electric vehicles. Furthermore, there was a concern that the electricity would not be from renewables, such as wind. Some participants felt their age makes them more resistant to these changes.
Younger people may embrace changes more willingly than I might, but I don’t necessarily trust new technology and innovation. The older the population gets, the more convincing they need about proposed changes.”
Ultimately, participants wanted to be able to understand what the strategy for delivering new innovations was. They believed this would help people embrace new technology and allow people the opportunity to upskill or retrain in these areas. The time it takes to get a specialist degree or training in these industries prompted discussion of lag time, reinforcing the need for a plan for implementation.
We need to know what the plan is, and have it clearly set out, because then it might help people think about what their careers could be and transfer current skills into something else. However, this will cost money, so having the support there for development is crucial.”
Participants felt there should be help retraining people from the gas or oil industries into greener jobs. People living in parts of Scotland that had witnessed industrial decline pointed out that investment in technology and in people’s skills needed time and investment.
Overall, when thinking about how technological innovations may be implemented, safety and reliability were crucial for acceptance of new products and services.
Later, in their feedback survey responses, participants added a few more points. Mainstreaming innovative initiatives was encouraged.
During Cop26 attendees had a card that worked across different modes of transport - given that was possible for the event it should be possible all the time.”
One participant reflected upon the drivers for innovation concerning skills and people.
The country should be investing in this by funding university and college courses that would bring on new tech in transportation.”
One participant made the point that rather than imposing technology on people, it could be seen as a tool for empowerment in individual decision-making.
…the ability to use technology for enforcement, education, information will help us to make better decisions for ourselves.”
A couple of participants emphasised that innovations had to become reliable solutions.