Impact of the COVID Crisis on Public Passenger Transport in Slovakia and Urban Transport in Žilina on a Selected Line

Abstract

The effects of the COVID-19-related crisis in society can be seen not only in long-distance passenger transport but also in the urban transportation services in the territory. During the pandemic, the travelling public tended to choose private motor vehicles, bicycles, or walking as their mode of transport to work or other activities. This fact was also the subject of our research based on the analysis of data on public passenger rail transport in the individual regions of the Slovak Republic and based on data analysis performed, also in urban transport in the city of Žilina. Mobility in the city was investigated and analysed based on detailed monitoring of the use of the means of transport on a specific trolleybus line No. 67, where a hybrid trolleybus Škoda 26TrA Solaris was deployed. It was found out that the impact of the pandemic and the adoption of restrictive measures to prevent the spread of the disease significantly affected this trolleybus line, where, depending on the extent of the measures taken, the occupancy of the trolleybus fluctuated by up to 60 % in specific months compared to the standard period of use of this means of transport.

The Experience Economy in the Systems of Urban and Regional Transport - from a Change of Location to Positive Emotional Impressions during Movements

“…Movements by passenger cars may increase safety during the pandemic, for example during Covid-19 many people have decided to switch to individual means of transport, such as bicycles or cars, to avoid the risk of infection in public transport. This trend has increased the interest in bicycles, electric scooters, and other alternative modes of transportation [32]. The car traffic is related to accidents, but it paradoxically increases the safety of the person moving by car, in a limited way (s)he moves on foot, does not wait at stops, less often crosses the street, does not use a two-wheeled vehicle, and at the same time cars are designed and manufactured with numerous systems of active and passive safety.…”