Public Transport COVID-19-Safe: New Barriers and Policies to Implement Effective Countermeasures under User’s Safety Perspective

Abstract

The COVID-19 emergency forced cities worldwide to adopt measures to restrict travel and implement new urban public transport solutions. The discontinuity and reduction of services made users recognize public transport systems as contamination vectors, and the decrease in the number of passengers can already be seen in several places. Thus, this study assessed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on urban public transport. We used hybrid choice models (HCMs) to identify the new barriers and potential solutions to increase users’ perception of safety, considering preexistent perceptions of public transportation quality. We used data from an online survey with users of public transportation in a metropolitan area in southern Brazil. We identified that the main barriers to using public transport during virus transmission are related to the system characteristics that force constant interaction with other passengers. Crowded vehicles and crowded stops/stations were considered the most detrimental factor in feeling safe while riding in the COVID-19 outbreak. Countermeasures that reduce the contact with other passengers—directly (limit the number of passengers in vehicles) or indirectly (operate with large vehicles)—and increase offers are possible solutions to make users feel safe while riding. The results of this research might help reduce passenger evasion and migration to more unsustainable transport modes.

Factors affecting public transport performance due to the COVID-19 outbreak: A worldwide analysis

“…The choice of travelling by PT during the COVID-19 pandemic is dependent on either the impossibility of using other travel modes, due to economic, social, and housing limitations, or the satisfaction from the quality of delivered services ( Lucchesi et al, 2022 ). In practice, though that PT systems generally experienced great ridership losses, this trend was not always horizontal among the population groups and local conditions considered.…”

“…This happened because Public Transport (PT) modes were considered as environments where COVID-19 transmission would be a serious threat due to the relatively small passenger cabin spaces, the often improper functioning of ventilation systems, the inability to identify infected fellow passengers, the vehicles' interior surfaces (e.g., handrails, seats, ticket issuing machines) that are touched by multiple users, the crowded conditions that favour close contact with other people on-board or at stops/stations etc. ( Huang & Li, 2022 ; Kłos-Adamkiewicz & Gutowski, 2022 ; Kumar et al, 2021 ; Lucchesi et al, 2022 ; Monahan & Lamb, 2022 ; Tirachini & Cats, 2020 ). These factors were in turn associated with psychosocial distress among PT users, since their feelings of fear, stress or anxiety increased and their perception of safety, along with their overall travel experience, were accordingly influenced ( Campisi et al, 2022 ; Dong et al, 2021 ).…”

A method for assessing the COVID-19 infection risk of riding public transit

“… Lucchesi et al (2022) conducted an online survey of public transportation users in a metropolitan area in southern Brazil and identified the immediate countermeasures which can increase the users' perception of protection while riding public transport. These countermeasures include limiting the number of people in the vehicles, wearing masks, and vehicle hygiene.…”

Pandemic impacts on public transport safety and stress perceptions in Nordic cities

“…To most people though perceptions of safety have probably gotten an extra dimension after COVID-19 was first introduced to our societies. A study from Brazil by Lucchesi and others (2022) showed that crowded vehicles and crowded stops/stations were considered the most detrimental factor in feeling safe while riding in the COVID-19 outbreak. The high number of users in the vehicles and the need to interact with many different people were users’ primary concerns.…”