Restriction of public transport services as a part of COVID-19 containment policies and user responses

Abstract

Among different modes of transport, public transport is the most directly affected one as it is irreconcilable to the widely adopted approach of social distancing. The sudden drop of the travel demand challenged the collectiveness of carriage of passengers, which is a fundamental concept of public transport. In this chapter, two datasets are explored to understand the response of public transport in the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. An analysis of Oxford COVID-19 Government Response Tracker (OxCGRT) data implies that the restrictions in public transport were implemented often as an accompanying measure to intensify general restrictions of human movements such as “lockdown,” but a smaller number of countries restricted public transport in order to hinder human gatherings on board for long periods. An analysis of the TU Wien dataset shows that, in the early phase of the pandemic, home office was the major driver to shift passengers away from public transport, but shifts to other modes were also observed. Fear of infection risk on board was the major motivation to change the travel mode, while a majority of those who remained on public transport had no alternative. Even during an epidemic, restriction of public transport may lead to de facto loss of mobility for those who have to be mobile but who do not own motorized private vehicles for the distances beyond walkable or bikeable range. Public transport sector has to be prepared for next similar possible epidemics so that closure is avoided while other necessary measures are implemented.