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Editor's comment: 'We can’t meet in LA – but here’s the next best thing'

By Adam Hill September 17, 2020 Read time: 2 mins
Well, we can dream... (© Joe Sohm | Dreamstime.com)

About now is traditionally the time that thoughts turn to the ITS World Congress – and this year is no different. Actually, that’s nonsense: this year is completely different. 

But here’s the good news: the spirit remains the same. We can’t meet physically in Los Angeles but we are able to offer you the next best thing. ITS International is delighted to be publisher of the official ITS World Congress Innovation News – three online magazines available on your desktop between now and November.

They complement ITS America’s bold new venture - the ITS World Congress All-Access digital event series, which runs until 8 October and covers all of the technologies and topics which would have been on show in LA. Look out for them in your inbox - and on our website. There will also be myriad sessions on a range of transport topics. Don’t miss out on what’s going to be a global conversation.

ITS Digital cover
Click the image above to view the latest ITS International digital issue

Of course, the reason that we can’t get together is coronavirus, and elsewhere in this issue New York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority warns that it urgently needs $12 billion to offset revenue lost to the pandemic. That’s a staggering sum of money and gives an insight into the scale of the crisis currently affecting public transport.

There’s another crisis which Covid-19 has highlighted and it has to do with access and inclusion in all aspects of transportation from planning onwards. In a wide-ranging interview, Dr Destiny Thomas, founder of Thrivance Group, talks frankly to ITS International about the legacy of racism in transit. 

People who are new to this – which is many of us – might do well to listen. As she points out: “An engineer doesn’t need to convince me of engineering principles in order for me to trust their insight.” 

She is hopeful, and inclusive, and welcomes the ITS industry’s involvement in the discussion. Get on board.

As ever, thank you for reading, and please stay healthy.


Adam Hill
Editor

@ITSeditorAdam
@ITS_Int_News

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