Avoiding public transport

hb2

This is from the government document on safe transport - https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-guidance-published-to-ensure-transport-network-is-safe-for-those-who-need-to-use-it?utm_source=f6e4b693-55ec-4eda-adea-5710f002d3dc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=govuk-notifications&utm_content=immediate

"The government’s strategy and advice recognises that there will be times and some settings on public transport where social distancing is not possible. The new guidance outlines how people should try to minimise the duration of this, and take all necessary steps to observe these measures where possible."

KxMx

Yet bus companies are going ahead with trials where seats are blocked off:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-52621747

The article also states

"Transport for London (TfL) said the requirement to keep 2m social distancing wherever possible meant the bus network would only be able to carry around 13-15% of the normal number of passengers even when all services were operating again."

So clearly only tube users are allowed to travel without social distancing requirements.  And it's really interesting despite weeks and weeks of tubes being packed, London reached their peak earlier and cases have not gone up and up as you'd expect after photos like that taken over many weeks. 

As a full time bus user I know enough to say this plan is utter madness and will not work in the real world once people start returning to work and more shoppers use the bus.  Not everyone has a car or a choice on whether they use buses or not.
Locally I'm willing to bet the numbers needing to use buses will exceed capacity while seats are blocked off. 

[Deleted User]

Clearly the solution is for the government to issue us all with jetpacks!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cIMWYeP7O1w

Fire_Fox

KxMx said:

As a full time bus user I know enough to say this plan is utter madness and will not work in the real world once people start returning to work and more shoppers use the bus.  Not everyone has a car or a choice on whether they use buses or not.
Locally I'm willing to bet the numbers needing to use buses will exceed capacity while seats are blocked off. 

Agree 100% the two metres is insane.

My flat is slap-bang in a city centre, my street has bus stops all along. There are already 'socially distant' queues at the banks and few shops that are open. Open up a few more shops and some fast food/ coffee shops and the pavements will be gridlocked.

Even 'off peak' how can you add a pushchair, wheelchair or wheeled shopping trolley to a 'full' bus? Will shoppers or workers be able to travel into the city centre, but struggle to get home again?

Here minicabs are reasonably priced compared to two adult bus fares: I can see them getting extra business. But 'socially distant' is impossible in a car, and poor taxi drivers are apparently at greater risk than bus drivers.

As an aside our council district is ~12% 'digitally excluded' so shopping online isn't an option for many. Overlapping with that are the many who only have a cashcard, no debit or credit card.

Fire_Fox

Poster_586329 said:

Clearly the solution is for the government to issue us all with jetpacks!!!

By jove he's got it!! Comandeer ski lifts, gondolas, rollercoasters and suchlike, repurpose as transport into and out of smaller city and town centres. Open air so safer than buses and trains.

a_fierce_bad_rabbit

Thanks, some useful info here.

It all seems impossible to pull off. As more stores and business open, social distancing certainly will create havoc. Many towns and villages in the uk don’t have the space or even pavement width to allow us this privilege. I have no idea how it’s going to work. But then I have no idea about an alternative either!

where I am, the pavements are so tiny you often have to walk into the traffic to allow people to slip past. Add to that it is a Lakeland tourist spot, so most often utterly thronged. So much traffic and hardly any pedestrian space . I mean when you walk a little down the road and the fields and mountains open up - lovely. But try to nip to Tesco and it’s chaos.