Development of public transport perception by its users during the pandemic: qualitative study from Czechia

Since the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, the transport sector has faced new challenges connected with decreasing use of public transport and passengers' concerns about possible contagion. Using focus groups and data collection by telephone interviews during the different phases of the pandemic, we investigated passengers' current concerns connected with public transport and what measures would help alleviate their fear of using it again. Our findings show that the pandemic has amplified passengers' sensitivity to phenomena they perceived negatively already before the pandemic, such as overcrowded vehicles, odours, or inadequate cleaning of vehicles. An appeal to people's own responsibility, appropriate communication by key institutions, increasing sanitation standards and promotion of contactless services are crucial for a safe travel feeling during and after the pandemic. The technological solutions, such as cashless payments, real-time-information for adequate guidance of users, more sophisticated ventilation systems etc. gained even more significance during the COVID-19 pandemic. In spite of various measures taken in the PT system, users reduced their PT trips substantially. The fear of COVID-19 contagion has been one of the reasons, although the fear of PT use has not been greater than the fear of contagion in other situations, such as shopping. One of the reasons for passengers´ decline was also the PT service reduction in frequency or number of connections. On the other hand, PT operators have been exposed to an enormous pressure to ensure sanitary requirements and had to overcome economic shortages due to a decreased demand and increased costs, so they had to find a viable balance between a necessary supply and safe operation during the COVID-19 waves. The study brings an overview of measures and changes in PT demand and gives a complex view on the development of attitudes and experience with PT use in the Czech Republic during the different phases of the COVID-19 pandemic. Results bring recommendations to PT providers, transport authorities and other institutions dealing with mobility and public health. Implementation of such measures can minimize the risk of contagion by COVID-19 or other respiratory infections and will help further development of public transport as a sustainable transport mode in the post-pandemic era.