Passengers avoiding trains due to coronavirus fears

Communities in West Yorkshire have reached a crossroads when it comes to the use of public transport, a survey into the impact of the coronavirus pandemic has suggested.
Wakefield WestgateWakefield Westgate
Wakefield Westgate

While more than a third of respondents said they were walking, running or cycling more than before lockdown, it seems others are making a move back to driving as they avoid the county's bus and train networks.

It has prompted calls from local authority leaders for the Government to encourage people to start using public transport again and provide the funding needed to improve the existing offering so that our towns and cities do not see a longer-term increase in car use and its associated environmental impact.

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The research for the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA) seeks to understand how the pandemic has changed working and travel patterns in the county and to start to assess the trends that will influence planning on the transport network in the long term.

Telephone interviews were carried out with 700 residents comprising a representative sample of West Yorkshire’s communities, with the process due to be repeated in the coming weeks to track how the results change as lockdown restrictions are lifted.

Findings from the initial survey included that 39 per cent of respondents are currently walking and running more than before lockdown, while 35 per cent are currently cycling more.

Almost three in ten (27 per cent) of regular public transport users said they will travel by car more in the coming weeks and 29 per cent reported being very concerned about using public transport.

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The majority of respondents - 64 per cent - said that, in the long term, they are likely to work from home more often than before lockdown.

Coun Kim Groves, who chairs WYCA's Transport Committee, said: “There are positive signs in this survey that people have been cycling and walking more during lockdown - and in the coming weeks and months, we will be encouraging them to do so for more work journeys as well as for leisure.

People should have confidence that public transport is safe but it is clear that we need Government support to encourage people back onto rail and bus if we are to avoid a surge in car use with congestion and lower air quality.

“We are spending over £6m a month to maximise capacity on the bus network while maintaining social-distancing, but we need the Government to work with us on long-term funding to provide the increased capacity and reliability that will attract people back.”

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Her comments were echoed by Leeds City Council leader Judith Blake, who also serves as WYCA's transport lead.

“The Combined Authority and partners are investing in measures to make more road space available for cycling and walking and this survey shows that there is a real opportunity to help people make positive changes in the way they travel," she said.

“However, the survey also underlines our warnings to the Government that transport authorities need long-term funding to meet the challenges we now face to avoid forcing people into their cars leading to congestion and poorer air quality.

“A reliable public transport network that allows for social-distancing while offering the capacity and reliability are communities need will be an essential part of West Yorkshire’s economic recovery from the pandemic.”

Also in news: More cash for mass transit system plans which could connect Leeds with Castleford, Dewsbury and Bradford