Public transport being avoided amid pandemic, survey shows

COMMUNITIES IN West Yorkshire have reached a crossroads when it comes to the use of public transport, a survey into the impact of the coronavirus pandemic has suggested.

While more than a third of respondents said they were walking, running or cycling more than before lockdown, it seems others are making a move back to driving as they avoid the county’s buses and trains.

It has prompted calls from local authority leaders for the Government to encourage people to start using public transport again and provide the funding needed to improve the existing offering so that our towns and cities do not see a longer term increase in car use and its environmental impact.

The research for the West Yorkshire Combined Authority seeks to understand how the pandemic has changed working and travel patterns in the county and to start to assess the trends that will influence planning on the transport network long term.

Telephone interviews were carried out with 700 residents, with the process due to be repeated in the coming weeks to track how results change as lockdown restrictions are lifted.

Findings from the initial survey included that 39 per cent of respondents are walking and running more than before lockdown, while 35 per cent are cycling more. Almost three in 10 regular public transport users said they will travel by car more in the coming weeks and 29 per cent reported being very concerned about using public transport. The majority of respondents – 64 per cent – said that, in the long term, they are likely to work from home more often than before lockdown.

“People should have confidence that public transport is safe but it is clear that we need Government support to encourage people back onto rail and bus,” said Coun Kim Groves, who chairs WYCA’s Transport Committee.

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