Public transport: lessons learned by the sector through the COVID-19 pandemic

BMC Public Health

Research

Nicola Gartland¹  Martie van Tongeren¹  Anna Coleman¹  Bernadine Farrell¹  David Fishwick²  Sheena Johnson³ 

[1] Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK;Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK;The Thomas Ashton Institute for risk and regulatory research, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK;Centre for Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Health Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK;Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, Manchester, UK;The Thomas Ashton Institute for risk and regulatory research, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK;Centre for Workplace Health, Health and Safety Executive Science and Research Centre, Harpur Hill, Buxton, UK;The Thomas Ashton Institute for risk and regulatory research, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK;Alliance Manchester Business School, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK;

关键词: COVID-19;    Coronavirus;    Control measures;    Public transport;    Transmission;    Longitudinal;    Reflection;   

DOI  :  10.1186/s12889-023-16062-3

 received in 2022-11-14, accepted in 2023-06-06,  发布年份 2023

来源: Springer

【 摘 要 】

BackgroundThe 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.MethodsSemi-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.ResultsUsing 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.ConclusionsThe 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.

【 授权许可】

CC BY   
© BioMed Central Ltd., part of Springer Nature 2023

【 图 表 】

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