UK confidence in public transit at 20-year low
Safety concerns
The report’s findings will cause concern for transport authorities, which are already dealing with the fallout from huge drops in ridership and revenue since the pandemic struck.
While the most common reasons for people feeling they need a car are, like last year, being able to carry heavy items (68%) and staying connected (59%), more than half (54%) say it is because they see cars as a safer form of transport during the COVID-19 pandemic. Over half (52%) say they will use public transport less in the future as a result of the pandemic.
A recentstudycommissioned by theAmerican Public Transportation Associationconcluded that there is no direct correlation between public transit use and COVID-19 spread in cities globally, provided people wear masks and trains and buses are well-ventilated.
Sam Schwartz, the former NYC Traffic Commissioner whose transit consulting firm compiled the report, said misinformation about the link between COVID-19 and transit is “appalling.”
UK transport companies have increased cleaning regimes and a mandatory facemask rule has been in place since 15 June. Asurveyconducted across UK cities in July found high levels of compliance with the law, with 99% of 225 passengers observed on the London Underground found to be wearing face coverings.
The latestDepartment for Transport datashows that car use has returned to almost 90% of pre-pandemic levels but rail and bus usage remain at around 30% and 60% respectively.
The UK is now in lockdown again until December 2, meaning non-essential businesses are closed and many people continue to work from home.
Story byCities Today
Cities Today is the leading news platform on urban mobility and innovation, reaching an international audience of city leaders.Cities Today is the leading news platform on urban mobility and innovation, reaching an international audience of city leaders.
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