Communicatio

n and
Academic
Skills for HE

(U10471) S21U10471

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Programme Title Foundation Year in Business and Law
Module Name Communication and Academic Skills for HE
Power point presentation of impact of coronavirus on
Aassessment Title the public transportation
Module Code (U10471) S21U10471

Module Lecturer Mohammed Abu Assaf

Submission Date 27/11/2023

Group Members:
Student Name/s ESL ID: CCCU ID:
Anton Mosneagu 108706 100118658
Mihai Darius Gheta 108703 100118244
Nicoleta Zelekta 108710 100118242
Talita Rinaldim de Almeida 108000 100118597

We, the above group members, assert that all the collateral used in this presentation is our own work, except where there is a clear
acknowledgement or reference to the work of others. We have complied, and agreed to, the College’s statement on Plagiarism and2
Academic Integrity, as detailed in the Course Handbook provided during our induction.
Table of Content
S/N Description Page No

1. Introduction 4-6

2. Literature Review 6-8

3. Analysis 8-12

4. Recommendations 12-14

5. Conclusion 14-15

6. Reference List 15-17

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 Introduction

• The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the quality of public transit in the
United Kingdom. (Gartland, 2023)

• The adoption of social distancing protocols and the growing frequency of remote work have led
to a significant reduction in the usage of public transport. (Gartland, 2023)

• The aforementioned situation has elicited apprehensions regarding the fiscal viability of public
transport systems and the availability of crucial transport services for individuals who rely on
them. (Gartland, 2023)

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• Concurrently, the ongoing global pandemic has presented a unique occasion to reassess and
improve public transport systems with the aim of maximising long-term advantages for
commuters. (Gartland, 2023)

• This presentation aims to explore the effects of the COVID-19 epidemic on the public transport
system in the United Kingdom, analysing the various responses implemented and
contemplating the potential future of public transport in the post-pandemic era. (Gartland,
2023)

• Additionally, this study will offer suggestions for post-pandemic enhancements and strategies
to tackle equity concerns within the realm of public transportation. (Gartland, 2023)

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 Literature Review
• COVID-19 has affected public transport worldwide, including in the UK. Since governments
and public health officials have implemented social distancing and lockdowns to slow the
virus's spread, public transport ridership has plummeted. Public transport ridership in the UK
dropped 90% during the first national lockdown in March 2020. (UITP, 2020)

• Pandemic has highlighted public transport infrastructure vulnerabilities. In the UK, public
transport has been criticised for a lack of modernisation and maintenance (House of Commons
Transport Committee, 2019). Reducing ridership and revenue for transport authorities has made
it hard to invest in upgrades and repairs due to the pandemic. Questions about the virus's spread
have increased demand for contactless payment systems and public transport vehicle
ventilation. (UITP, 2020)

• Despite being essential, public transport workers have been at risk of infection from the
pandemic. Because of their close proximity to passengers and frequent public interaction,
transport workers are more likely to contract Covid-19 than the general population. (TUC,
2020)

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• The pandemic forced many public transport systems to cut service and boost safety. Lower
demand for public transport led to reduced service, while safety measures reduced virus spread.
Safety measures include masks, cleaning and disinfecting, and driver-passenger barriers.
(Bwambale et al., 2023)

• Public transport has moved to contactless payment and digital ticketing due to the pandemic.
Many systems use mobile ticketing and smart cards to eliminate the need for cash or paper
tickets. (Shayan, 2021)

• After the COVID-19 pandemic, public transport systems worldwide are undergoing much
debate and speculation. While some experts believe public transport will never fully recover
from the pandemic, others believe it will thrive. (Hawkes, 2023)

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 Analysis
• Decrease in Ridership
o The utilisation of public transport in the United Kingdom was significantly affected by the
Covid-19 pandemic. Several factors contributed to this phenomenon, including government
regulations aimed at reducing the spread of the virus, the implementation of remote work
policies, and public concerns about the risks of commuting on buses, trains, and the London
Underground. During the pandemic period, there was a notable decline in the utilisation of
public transport. (Vickerman, 2021)

Fig. 1: Total number of drivers and licensed taxis in England since 1972 (UK Government, 2022)
• Financial Impact on Public Transportation Providers
o The United Kingdom witnessed significant financial ramifications for public
transport providers due to a decline in ridership, leading to a reduction in
services and subsequent job losses. Despite the provision of financial aid by
the government, the pandemic's effects on the industry remained largely
unabated due to the insufficiency of the assistance provided. (Vickerman,
2021)

Fig. 2: Passenger travels by mode: Great Britain during the financial years 1986 and 2021 (UK Government, 2021)
• Measures Implemented by Transportation Agencies
o In context of the COVID-19 epidemic, transport agencies in the UK have implemented
various safety protocols. These include mask mandates, increased sanitization, social
distancing, contactless payment promotion, improved ventilation, staff barriers and shields,
reduced service, public awareness campaigns, and employee protection. These measures
aim to reduce virus transmission and protect passengers and staff. (UK HSA, 2022)

• Effectiveness of Measures
o Transport authorities in the United Kingdom have successfully developed strategies to limit
the transmission of the Covid-19 virus. According to a number of scientific investigations,
the adoption of mask-wearing and rigorous cleaning protocols has been demonstrated to
significantly reduce the chance of transmission. Enforcing these measures and ensuring
rider compliance has proven to be challenging. (Ayouni, 2021)

• Long-Term Implications
o Since the pandemic, public transport has become essential and infrastructure investment is
needed. Transportation agencies may adopt contactless payment systems and improve
ventilation during the pandemic, which may affect public transportation in the future.
Concerns remain about transportation agencies' long-term financial viability and post-
pandemic ridership declines. (Downey, 2022)
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• Shift towards Sustainable and Active Transportation
o The current global health crisis has garnered attention towards the need of sustainable and
active forms of transport, such as cycling and walking, in addressing issues related to traffic
congestion and improving air quality. (Thombre and Agarwal, 2021)

• Increased Emphasis on Digitalization and Contactless Payment

o The COVID-19 pandemic has expedited the implementation of digitalization and
contactless payment systems within the realm of public transport. It is anticipated that this
trend will persist in the aftermath of the pandemic, as there will be a heightened focus on
leveraging these technologies to enhance the overall passenger experience and mitigate the
potential for disease transmission. (Abduljabbar, Liyanage and Dia, 2022)

• Transition to Electric and Low-Emission Vehicles

o The adoption of electric and low-emission vehicles in public transport is experiencing a
notable increase, primarily influenced by environmental considerations and governmental
policies. It is anticipated that this trend will persist in the aftermath of the pandemic,
wherein there will be a heightened emphasis on the mitigation of emissions and
enhancement of air quality. (Christidis et al., 2021)

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 Recommendations

• Increase money for public transport in areas with low incomes

o Local public transport systems often get less money and resources, which means they don't
have as good of service or infrastructure. That's why the government should give more
money to public transport in these areas so that new buses and trains can be bought,
infrastructure can be improved, and services can be made available to more people. (Frost,
2022)

• Create lower fares and subsidies for low-income riders.

o Payments for transport can be very expensive for people and families with low incomes.
There should be lower fares and subsidies for low-income riders so that everyone can
afford and use public transport. Discounted tickets, free passes, or help paying for transport
vouchers are some examples of this. (Department for Transport, 2022)

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• Let people with disabilities get around more easily
o Accessibility issues with UK public transport are common. This problem should be fixed
by the government spending money on better infrastructure, like lifts, platforms, and ramps
that everyone can use. Additionally, transportation companies should teach their employees
about disability awareness and sensitivity, and they should help disabled passengers as
needed. (Parker, 2021)

• Fix problems with racial and ethnic differences in access to transport

o Accessing public transport in the UK can be hard for racial and ethnic minorities because of
things like limited service in their neighbourhoods and unfair treatment by transport
providers. The government should make more services available in minority
neighbourhoods and give transport providers anti-discrimination training to fix these
problems. Additionally, transportation companies should actively seek feedback from
minority groups to make sure their needs are being met. (Gates et al., 2019)

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 Conclusion
• In summary, the COVID-19 pandemic has exerted a substantial influence on transport system in the
United Kingdom. The literature review has revealed that the COVID-19 pandemic has led to a
decrease in ridership, revenue, and service levels within the public transportation industry.

• Nevertheless, the current situation has also brought attention to the inventive measures taken by
transport providers in response to the pandemic, including the adoption of contactless payment
systems and the implementation of enhanced sanitization protocols. When considering the
forthcoming period, it becomes evident that the public transport system in the United Kingdom will
necessitate adjustments to align with the post-pandemic environment.

• These adaptations should primarily concentrate on augmenting the number of passengers utilising
public transport services and effectively tackling issues related to fairness and impartiality.

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 Reference list
• Abduljabbar, R.L., Liyanage, S. and Dia, H. (2022). A systematic review of the impacts of the coronavirus crisis on urban transport: Key
lessons learned and prospects for future cities.
 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0264275122002098?via%3Dihub
• TUC (2020). Risks 943 - 16 April 2020. [online] www.tuc.org.uk. Available at:
 https://www.tuc.org.uk/news/risks-943-16-april-2020
• Ayouni, I., Maatoug, J., Dhouib, W., Zammit, N., Fredj, S.B., Ghammam, R. and Ghannem, H. (2021). Effective public health measures to
mitigate the spread of COVID-19: a systematic review. BMC Public Health
 https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-021-11111-1
• Bwambale, A., Chinebuli Uzondu, Islam, M., Rahman, F., Zahara Batool, Paul Isolo Mukwaya and Wadud, Z. (2023). Willingness to pay for
COVID-19 mitigation measures in public transport and paratransit in low-income countries. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and
Practice
 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965856422003123?via%3Dihub
• Christidis, P., Christodoulou, A., Navajas-Cawood, E. and Ciuffo, B. (2021). The Post-Pandemic Recovery of Transport Activity: Emerging
Mobility Patterns and Repercussions on Future Evolution. Sustainability
 https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/13/11/6359
• Department for Transport (2022). £2 bus fare cap across England to save passengers money
 https://www.gov.uk/government/news/2-bus-fare-cap-across-england-to-save-passengers-money
• Downey, L., Fonzone, A., Fountas, G. and Semple, T. (2022). The impact of COVID-19 on future public transport use in
Scotland. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice
 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0965856422001598?via%3Dihub
• Eurostat (2021). Rail transport severely impacted by COVID-19 in 2020.
 https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/web/products-eurostat-news/-/ddn-20211119-2
• Frost, S. (2022). To support low-income households, it’s time to reduce the cost of daily bus travel.
 https://www.ippr.org/blog/time-to-reduce-the-cost-of-daily-bus-travel
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• Gartland, N., Coleman, A., Farrell, B.P., Fishwick, D., Johnson, S. and Martie van Tongeren (2023). how these findings canPublic transport:
lessons learned by the sector through the COVID-19 pandemic. BMC Public Health
 https://bmcpublichealth.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12889-023-16062-3

• Gates, S., Gogescu, F., Grollman, C. and Cooper, E. (2019). Transport and inequality: An evidence review for the Department for Transport
 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/60080f728fa8f50d8f210fbe/Transport_and_inequality_report_document.pdf

• Hawkes, D. (2023). Public Transport Funding And The Covid-19 Pandemic – What Happens Next? Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE)
 https://www.ice.org.uk/news-insight/news-and-blogs/ice-blogs/the-infrastructure-blog/what-is-the-future-of-public-transport-after-covid-19

• House of Commons (2023). Strategic road investment Sixth Report of Session 2022-23 Report, together with formal minutes relating to the
report by authority of the House of Commons.
 https://committees.parliament.uk/publications/41071/documents/199999/default/

• Parker, M. (2021). Our transport system treats disabled people as an inconvenience. Here’s what needs to change.
 https://www.greenpeace.org.uk/news/transport-disabled-people-passengers-rights/

• Shayan, A. (2021). Council Post: What’s Driving Contactless Payments In Transit — And How Agencies Can Ensure A Smooth Rollout
 https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesfinancecouncil/2021/07/30/whats-driving-contactless-payments-in-transit---and-how-agencies-can-ensure-a-smo
oth-rollout/?sh=2227605a305f
• Thombre, A. and Agarwal, A. (2021). A paradigm shift in urban mobility: Policy insights from travel before and after COVID-19 to seize the
opportunity.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0967070X21001918?via%3Dihub

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• UITP (2020). KNOWLEDGE BRIEF
 https://cms.uitp.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Knowledge-Brief-Covid19.pdf
• UK Health Security Agency (2022a). Living safely with respiratory infections.
 https://www.gov.uk/guidance/living-safely-with-respiratory-infections-including-covid-19
• UK Health Security Agency (2022b). Reducing the spread of respiratory infections, including COVID-19, in the workplace.
 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-transport-guidance-for-operators/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-transport-guid
ance-for-operators#public-transport
• Vickerman, R. (2021). Will Covid-19 put the public back in public transport? A UK perspective.
 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0967070X21000111?via%3Dihub
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 https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/healthandwellbeing/bulletins/coronavirusandthesocialimpactsongreatbri
tain/26march2021

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