Public transportation provides a critical daily service to millions of people. However, public transit, in general, can introduce new risks for exposure to COVID-19. As schools, businesses, and community organizations continue to provide essential services during the pandemic, follow these guidelines to protect yourself and slow the spread of COVID-19 when using transportation. Now there must be some classification here among who will travel and who will not. People who have a compromised immune system must not travel through public transport. Similarly, people who are at increased risk of illness must avoid public transport. So, let’s explore how we can protect health and safety on public transport.
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Different types of public transport and safety measures
You may travel by different types of public or private transport but some common rules that should be followed like:
- Wear a mask.
- Stay 6 feet (about 2 arm lengths) from others.
- Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated places.
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. In case soap is not available use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol.
Based on the different modes of public transport what particular type of safety measure you should opt for that we have discussed in this blog.
Mode #1 Public transport
- Avoid travelling at peak hours. Traveling during non-peak hours will help to keep you safe.
- Follow physical distancing guidelines by staying at least 6 feet (about 2 arm lengths)
- Avoid gathering and groups
- Skip a row of seats between yourself and other commuters
- Use the rear door for boarding and leaving the transport.
- Follow the physical guide mentioned in the transport.
- After getting off the transport leave the station and use hand sanitizer with 60% alcohol or wash your hands with soap and water for 20 seconds.
- Limit touching common surfaces like kiosks, touchscreens and fingerprint scanners, ticket machines,restroom surfaces, elevator buttons, and benches.However, if you must touch these surfaces, sanitize your hands as soon as you can.
- Refrain from eating or drinking on public transit to ensure you wear the mask always.
Mode #2 Shared ride
- Avoid a vehicle where the driver or the other passengers are not properly using the mask or their nose and mouth are not properly covered.
- Limit the number of passengers in the vehicle and be selective about the passengers. Select only those who need to travel with you.
- Avoid shared rides where passengers are picked up from different households.
- Choose the back sit in the public transit so that you can maintain physical distance from other passengers.
- Allow enough ventilation inside the vehicle through opening the windows or putting on the air conditioning of the vehicle in non-circulation mode.
- Refrain from eating or drinking in shared ride unless urgent to keep your mask intact.
Mode #3 Rental cars
- Before boarding the car clean and disinfect the touched surfaces like steering wheel, handles, gear shift, windows, radio/temperature dials, locks, and seatbelt bucklesor even shared equipment. You can use disinfecting wipes also.
- Avoid touching surfaces and use touchless payment when available and if applicable.
- Maintain hand hygiene.
Mode #4 Personal car
- Take only necessary people inside the car.
- Improve the ventilation in the vehicle by opening the windows or set the air ventilation/air conditioning on non-recirculation mode. If using a rental car, make sure to ventilate the vehicle during use.
- If using a rental car, sanitize the door handles, steering wheel, and other surfaces before use.
Final verdict
Human nature is to socially mingle with others. However, during this pandemic situation it is highly risky to interact with others in high-trafficked, public spaces to maintain health and safety on public transport. . It is not unusual that people often have conversation with others during commute and even if you do so, do that from safe distance. Be safe and keep your surrounding safer.