Alarm as study shows Covid scaring people off public transport

The coronavirus pandemic has frightened commuters away from using public transport, a study has found.

Napier University researchers found between 34% and 42% of people intend to use public transport less often than before the pandemic.

The most common reasons given included the possibility of getting infections from other passengers.

Respondents also cited a lack of cleanliness/hygiene on board some vehicles and overcrowding.

Fife and Dundee groups have called on the Scottish Government to do more to tackle people’s fears.

And one of the university’s academics has warned the problem could

“hamper the efforts to drastically reduce the carbon footprint of the transport sector”.

Nearly half, 42%, of respondents said they will fly less than before the Covid-19 pandemic.

Some 36% people think they will use buses less and 34% expect to reduce train use.

Online shopping and grocery deliveries are also expected to remain popular after the pandemic.

However, 45% said they will walk more and 29% expect to cycle more as the country emerges from lockdown. A quarter of people plan on driving more often.

The university’s Transport Research Institute team surveyed nearly 1,000 people in the study.

Fife councillor and rail campaigner Jane Ann Liston called for “a reversal” of the message sent out at the start of the pandemic.

“People were told not to use public transport. We need a clear opposite message now to encourage people to use trains and buses again.

“Yes, there will need to be messaging about social distancing and masks for some time yet. But in order to get people using public transport again there needs to be just as vocal a reversal of that messaging.

“All those environmental factors that made public transport important before coronavirus are still here.”

Transport Scotland insists its messaging is based on public health advice.

Part of the public body’s strategy plan is to encourage public transport “once it is safe and appropriate to do so”, a spokesman said.

“As restrictions ease demand for public transport will increase.

“However, we will still need to manage capacity to ensure physical distancing is maintained.

“We are encouraging all those travelling to plan ahead, avoid busy times and make use of real-time planning information.”

For Dundee bus operator Xplore, public transport is a vital part of the country’s “green recovery”.

Managing director Christine Mcglasson highlighted a range of measures they took at the outset of the pandemic.

These include rigorous cleaning and fitting “virus-killing” air filters.

“Despite the perception outlined in the report, studies have shown public transport is relatively low risk in terms of exposure to the virus,” she said.

“As life begins to return to normal, we will maintain rigorous safety measures and focus on making sure our services are not overcrowded.

“The confidence we already have in our services needs to be echoed by the government and wider society.”

Dr Greg Fountas, from the university’s school of engineering, said: “A shift to private cars postpandemic would hamper the efforts to drastically reduce the carbon footprint of the transport sector.

“That is alarming for Scotland, where transport constitutes the largest source of greenhouse emissions.”

BUS SERVICES: Xplore’s Christine Mcglasson highlighted a range of measures they took at the outset of the pandemic. Picture by Mhairi Edwards.