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

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  • Shanna Trichês Lucchesi

    (Industrial and Transportation Engineering Department, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90035-190, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil)

  • Virginia Bergamaschi Tavares

    (WRI Brasil, Porto Alegre 90035-077, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil)

  • Miriam Karla Rocha

    (Engineering Center, Federal University of Semi-Árido, Mossoró 59625-900, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil)

  • Ana Margarita Larranaga

    (Industrial and Transportation Engineering Department, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre 90035-190, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil)

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.

Suggested Citation

  • Shanna Trichês Lucchesi & Virginia Bergamaschi Tavares & Miriam Karla Rocha & Ana Margarita Larranaga, 2022. "Public Transport COVID-19-Safe: New Barriers and Policies to Implement Effective Countermeasures under User’s Safety Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-19, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:5:p:2945-:d:763095
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    2. Lin, Yuqian & Xu, Yang & Zhao, Zhan & Tu, Wei & Park, Sangwon & Li, Qingquan, 2024. "Assessing effects of pandemic-related policies on individual public transit travel patterns: A Bayesian online changepoint detection based framework," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 181(C).
    3. Majerčák Peter & Majerčák Jozef & Kurenkov Petr Vladimirovič, 2023. "Impact of the COVID Crisis on Public Passenger Transport in Slovakia and Urban Transport in Žilina on a Selected Line," LOGI – Scientific Journal on Transport and Logistics, Sciendo, vol. 14(1), pages 169-180, January.
    4. Jaydarifard, Saeed & Morawska, Lidia & Paz, Alexander, 2024. "Mitigating airborne infection risks in public transportation: A systematic review," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C), pages 309-320.
    5. Tinessa, Fiore & Román Garcia, Concepción & Simonelli, Fulvio & Papola, Andrea & Pagliara, Francesca, 2024. "How public transport users would react to different pandemic alert scenarios in the post-vaccine era? An analysis of preferences and attitudes of the users in the metropolitan area of Naples (Italy)," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 190(C).

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