Abstract
BACKGROUND: The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the operations and functionality of the public transport sector in the UK. This paper reflects on the experience of this sector through the pandemic period, and considers recommendations for any future mitigations required for either new COVID-19 waves or a different public health emergency.
METHODS: Semi-structured interviews were carried out with public transport experts, organisational leaders, workers and passengers in two phases: Phase 1 from January to May 2021, and Phase 2 from December 2021 to February 2022. Interviews were analysed thematically.
RESULTS: Using the 'What? So What? Now What?' reflective model, ideas are drawn out to describe (a) what changes occurred, (b) what effects these changes had on service provision as well as perceptions of risk and mitigation and (c) what lessons have been learned and how these findings can feed into pandemic preparedness for the future. Respondent reflections focussed on the importance of communication, leadership, and maintaining compliance.
CONCLUSIONS: The wealth of experience gained through the COVID-19 pandemic in the public transport sector is extremely valuable. Through reflection on this experience, specific recommendations are made relating to these factors, covering: maintaining links across industry, access to information and data, understanding of mitigation effectiveness, improving messaging, challenges of behavioural mitigations, and clear lines of accountability. The recommendations made on the basis of this reflective process will help to improve public health strategy within the public transport sector.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 1904 |
| Pages (from-to) | 1-17 |
| Number of pages | 17 |
| Journal | BMC Public Health |
| Volume | 23 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2 Oct 2023 |
UN SDGs
This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
-
SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 11 Sustainable Cities and Communities
Keywords
- COVID-19
- coronavirus
- control measures
- public transport
- transmission
- longitudinal
- reflection
Research Beacons, Institutes and Platforms
- Thomas Ashton Institute
- Work and Equalities Institute
Fingerprint
Dive into the research topics of 'Public transport: lessons learned by the sector through the COVID-19 pandemic'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.Impacts
-
Public transport and the pandemic: examining perceptions of risk and mitigation to guide policymakers (part of PROTECT)
Coleman, A. (Participant), Gartland, N. (Participant), Van Tongeren, M. (Corresponding participant), Fishwick, D. (Participant) & Johnson, S. (Participant)
Impact: Attitudes and behaviours, Awareness and understanding, Health and wellbeing, Policy
-
University of Manchester researchers’ collaboration with the Partnership for Research in Occupational, Transport and Environmental COVID Transmission (PROTECT) project informs policy and practice aimed to reduce risk from Covid-19 transmission
Van Tongeren, M. (Corresponding participant), Rhodes, S. (Participant), Wilkinson, J. (Participant), Gittins, M. (Participant), Coleman, A. (Participant), Gartland, N. (Participant), Johnson, S. (Participant), Arden Armitage, C. (Participant), Lewis, C. (Participant), Clayson, A. (Participant), Verma, A. (Participant), Bourne, N. (Participant), Cheung, C. (Participant), Clarke, S. (Participant), Kirkham, R. (Participant) & Yunusa-Kaltungo, A. (Participant)
Impact: Health and wellbeing, Policy, Awareness and understanding
Cite this
- APA
- Author
- BIBTEX
- Harvard
- Standard
- RIS
- Vancouver