Adapting public transit in the Netherlands so that everyone can keep at least 1.5 meters apart will cost at least €1.2bn, but it’s unclear if this will get people back on the buses. The use of public transit has dropped 90 percent since the coronavirus outbreak as the Dutch have adapted to staying home as much as possible. A recent survey found that 88 percent of Dutch residents traveled by bike or car when possible, though most expect to return to normal once the crisis is over. But 20 percent of people are planning to do more walking and biking while 25 percent intend to fly less. They also anticipate permanent changes to the way they work, with 25 percent predicting they’ll continue to work from home and a third who envision holding more remote meetings. The figures were compiled in a report by the Knowledge Institute for Mobility Policy, which found that 44 percent of all Dutch started working from home or have been doing so more often because of the coronavirus crisis. However, the majority of students who have been forced into distance learning are not comfortable with the format.
