Public Transport during coronavirus outbreak

Abstract

In 2019 a virus surfaced in China that would later cause a pandemic: the coronavirus. Across the world measures were taken to reduce the spread of the virus. Public Transport (PT) had a unique position, being both an essential service and a place where the virus can easily be spread. This research investigates the measures taken in PT in the Netherlands and internationally in an objective manner. No assessment is made of any kind of any measure. In the Netherlands, the Outbreak Management Team collaborated with the public transport association OV-NL to ensure every companies response was similar. Through an interview with the chairman of OV-NL, Pedro Peters, more information was gathered on this particular aspect of the research. Besides taking measures to reduce the virus, mainly by reducing or avoiding contact (both between people and with surfaces), companies reduced their service levels. This reduction was a response to the large decrease in passenger demand and partly to more of the personnel reporting sick. This research investigated this reduction of service throughout the first period of the virus outbreak in the Netherlands (27th of February – 1st of June). Besides the Netherlands, measures taken in other countries were also investigated, showing many similarities. However, other measures were taken as well, like checking the temperature of passengers in for example Thailand, China or Iran or using a proximity app which happened in Singapore. Not every country experienced the virus outbreak at the same time. In the research, data by the Oxford University and Blavatnik School of government was used to create world maps that visualize the closing of public transport for all days of the outbreak up to June 1st. The same was done to create a map for lockdowns and using data found through an online search a world map visualisation was made about the mandatory use of face masks in public transport. The maps show a general trend: following the virus, but it is clear that some countries responded early or late and that the correct response to the virus was unclear. Especially the face mask visualisation shows a more random pattern. So while within the Netherlands the response to the virus was uniform, internationally the response was quite random. This research can be used to further research the measures taken and assess the measures with regards to for example effectiveness, safety or comfort.