COVID-19 pandemic: Resuming public transport services post-lockdown
Resuming services during a global health pandemic
So far, the COVID-19 pandemic has placed over four billion people in lockdown. With mobility limited, it has drastically impacted public transport networks across the world. The impact has resulted in the decrease of farebox revenues (in some cities the reduction in patronage surpasses 90%) and brought with it additional costs to disinfect and implement physical distancing measures in public transport vehicles and infrastructure. It has also resulted in the reduction in industrial and service production, including the halt of activities and the decrease in turnover of the supply industry, and subsequent deaths and infections among public transport workers.
This Knowledge Brief provides an overview of what measures have been taken so far and 10 critical challenges facing the public transport sector. It is important to consider such aspects for resuming operations.
“The crisis has shown the vital role that public transport workers play by keeping continuity of the service and supporting essential services personnel.”
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