Nowadays, Corona Virus disease(Covid-19) becomes worst in every corner of the World. And, Modes of Public Transportation Systems will increase the Performance of virus Transmission. Even if, there is a condition that the Public Transport system will not have any danger in the presence of strict regulation and accepted occupancy level. But, in developing countries, there are conditions in which Passenger overloading is the common Practices. So, for this Scientific Community, I need to raise the following questions.
It is open for Positive Discussion.
I believe that stopping the service could prevent people from going to work (when they don't have a private vehicle). For sure cleaning public transport at least twice a day could be helpful. Preventive measures such as masks and gloves should be a priority to the ones who must take public transport to go to work (eg).
In Italy we are all locked in our homes, the best thing to do not to spread the virus is to be safe and don't go around. When people go out, even just to the grocery shop, they wear masks and protective gloves.
Best regards
Our collagues at the GIZ are doing a webinar addressing this topic with a case from Shenzen CN. If you are interested register here https://bit.ly/2vtxhNY
It is on March 20th at 1000 CET. Hope this helps.
Proper awareness and enlightenment program will be the best measure in respect to public transport reduction of the Transmission of corona-virus.
In Ukraine, for retirees it is common practice to travel unnecessarily. It will be effective to cancel free travel benefits for the sensitive categories, namely golden agers.
Public transport has two sides in times of Corona: it still makes it possible for people to get to work and shopping. On the other hand it can be a way of spreading the virus.
In Graz/Austria (as in other European cities) we started to protect the drivers. The first door stays closed, bus drivers do not sell tickets any more and the room next to the driver is closed for passengers. With the "stay-at-home" order, that we have had for one week now, we also reduced the frequency of our rides to a basic level. There are at least 80 percent less riders now than usual. So public transport still offers basic services, the few people travelling now still have enough room in the vehicles and can keep the proper distance to the next passenger and we protect our drivers.
Another challenge for public transport will be the time after the crisis. How do regain the trust of your former customers when it was wise during the crisis to only use public transport in case you had no other option?
Thank you for your advice Mojeed Olayiwola Giwa Volodymyr Sistuk Martin Schmidt
Dear Martin Schmidt ,
It is a fantastic question that you raised. In the future, the trust of public transport becomes the first mandatory issue in order to get attraction from users. As a public transport agency ar as a public transport planner, we have to think and be ready for the kinds of pandemic diseases, terrorist actions, and other unforeseen situations when we promote public transportation systems for sustainable mobility.
Preprint Investigating COVID-19: Quantifying recurring methodological...
Good ideas
The public transport system has played an important role for travelers to travel to work, shopping and leisure. During the Coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic and the government had introduced measures to protect the public by delaying the spread of the virus. I think that, to prevent the spread of Covid-19, the public transport agency should be in the same page with the government, by making sure that it’s travellers wears the protective masks and gloves.
Public transportation should not be abolished because of the covid-19 pandemic beca it’s a phase thing will return to normal at the moment WHO guideline should be maintained. In developing countries like ours their should be a policy put in place by government to regulate the public transport system coupled with the WHO guidelines I believe we will overcome the pandemic sooner than expected
Dear, this is exactly the challenge we address with our team in the current EU Hacathon: https://euvsvirus.org/
Our aim: "We want to establish and populate a co-created platform of best practices for Public Transport (PT) operators to show-case how to feel, be and perceive 'safe PT,' and how to implement such measures in different cities/settings and increase/maintain equitable access to mobility/safety/hygiene while on the move."
We would like to create a searchable database/website for PT operators that can be co-created by users and other stakeholders. Should you be interested in joining our team, pls be invited! Pls drop me a mail if you are interested.
Here is the link to join the team (and pls invite others!):
https://euvsvirus.typeform.com/to/fSzYnT?teamid=01E643RW5J0MFHNTCCM182NB9D&teamname=PT_Safe
Great responses, Thank you Hazael Brown , Doris Akhighu , Robert Braun
I really like to see from a different angle. Obviously, sharing mobility would be a risky option in the time of COVID-19. But, for many people maybe it is the only option for commuting. Unfortunately, it seems that more disadvantaged population need to continue working and many of them need to use public transport as their only option.
An inequitable transport environment! We can see many people just accept this risk because they have to. The idea maybe could be supporting these population groups during this time and protect them from this risk.
Dear Danial Jahanshahi , Thank you.
It is a very interesting idea that you raised. We know that Public transport has many advantages in addition to affordability for all kinds of socio-economic groups. For this time of COVID-19, I think It is better to make things possible and we should think beyond the box. That was my intention.
Thank you Mollalign Yizengaw Mebrat
I really can say one lesson we learnt in transport sector is that we should work more on providing transport equity. We should be ready to consider equity in our policy-making during a crisis.
Dear Danial Jahanshahi ,
Most of the time, our transportation systems are neither efficient nor economic nor equitable when we evaluate it from the whole perspective. Actually, there will be a chance of having good or bad opportunities from different mobility plan approaches. But overall we need the most up-to-date perspectives and practical approaches.
So, In policy-making, considering equity in relation to accessibility, environmental impacts, health, and wellbeing during the crisis is very important indeed.
Dear sir Mollalign Yizengaw Mebrat, Actually it is quite difficult to express using words, because basically people are difficult to limit when they are outside the home. Easy in theory and difficult in practice. I discuss the case in Indonesia, when mass transportation, crowded places (shopping centers including relaxed traditional markets) the population exposed to Co19 increased sharply, almost in all provinces in Indonesia. The government must implement the Rapid-Test and Swap firmly and decisively by "taking the ball" (coming to people's homes) so that the symptoms of "tend to be sick" or "already seriously ill" can be immediately identified and "secured" to the hospital or isolation room!
specifically for healthy (negative) citizens, cards are given as a means of truly healthy "identity" so that only healthy people can use mass transportation. Now all overlaps and shared handling are out of sync with each other. In addition, the attitudes and behavior of citizens who are "indifferent" to make a positive graph 19 in Indonesia increases. In Indonesia, it is difficult to make passengers "feel safe" using mass transportation to be difficult, because it is too late (public transport is not safe to use). While the use of private transportation is restricted. Difficult to move or travel. Thank you and sorry if there is a wrong word.
Using public transportation in the face of covid-19 for better protection, there should be more sensitization and awareness for people to see the need to protect themselves and others, this is where policy implimentation needs to come in because human beings are quite difficult to control.
No doubt, its going to take a while for activities to normalised most especially public transportation. First and foremost, wearing a mask at all times is a critical way of protect yourself and others while inside buses or train. Carrying hand sanitizer when traveling to clean your hands right before and right after the ride, will keep you safe and provide peace of mind during your commute.
Public transportation is very efficient, moving many people at a time. Since close encounters are impossible to prevent, it will be safer to use a face mask or a scarf so as not to catch a flying virus from people who may not even know they carry it.