The Outbreak of COVID-19 Pandemic in Relation to Sense of Safety and Mobility Changes in Public Transport Using the Example of Warsaw

Zuzanna Kłos-Adamkiewicz,Piotr Gutowski

doi:10.3390/su14031780

Abstract

Worldwide, many different actions have been taken by local and national governments to control the spread of COVID-19. The impact of these measures can be seen in different areas, especially in passenger transport and travel behaviour. This study examines the changes that have occurred in travel behaviour, using the example of the capital city of Warsaw, Poland, in relation to measures undertaken to control the spread of COVID-19 and the sense of safety among passengers that was supposed to be provided by public transport organisers. Data were collected through an online survey questionnaire that included questions about past (before COVID-19) and present (during COVID-19) travel behaviour, mode choice and the frequency of trips by public transport users in Warsaw. The results showed significant changes in mobility and travel behaviour along with most common threats seen by public transport users. There was a major shift from public to individual modes of transport in the city area. The outcomes of this study could play a significant role in transport planning in the case of any other situation that affects public transport on such a level as the COVID-19 pandemic has. In particular, local and national authorities could use this knowledge for better planning for any type of lockdowns.

Highlights

Academic Editors: SumeetaThe outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic showed that, at times of a higher risk of infection, people are less secure about their health and sense of safety when using public transport.Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, much work and research has been conducted to understand its impact on different aspects of life
More than two thirds of respondents reported the elimination of trips as a result of working from home (68.8%) and the cancellation of appointments (67.8%); More than half (58.8%) of the respondents confirmed that their use of different modes of transport had changed since the outbreak of the pandemic; The number of rail passengers went down by roughly 40%, and the number of people using public transport decreased by 11% for the first quarter of 2020; Weekday movements were reduced by as much as 38%; Before the spread of COVID-19 in Germany, 68% of the adult population was restricted to one mode of transport
The results of the survey conducted in Warsaw show that, since the outbreak of12the of 23 pandemic, 36.18% of respondents changed their decisions regarding the choice of means of transport for everyday travel (Figure 4)

Summary

Introduction

Academic Editors: SumeetaThe outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic showed that, at times of a higher risk of infection ( during the time of seasonal influenza), people are less secure about their health and sense of safety when using public transport.Since the start of the pandemic in 2020, much work and research has been conducted to understand its impact on different aspects of life. The outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic showed that, at times of a higher risk of infection ( during the time of seasonal influenza), people are less secure about their health and sense of safety when using public transport. This paper presents a small but very important insight into an aspect of everyday life and daily mobility, and concentrates, in detail, on public transport users. It addresses the sense of health and safety, described as personal security (these phrases will be used alternately), which relates to the possibility of becoming infected in mass transit vehicles. The research is followed by correlation statistics, the conclusion and discussion

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