Physical distancing on public transport in Mumbai, India: Policy and planning implications for unlock and post-pandemic period

Abstract

COVID-19 outbreak affected the daily lives of people around the globe, and authorities proposed numerous interventions to make activity participation and traveling safer during the pandemic period. This study investigates the potential implication of such interventions on executing physical distancing on public transport in Mumbai, India. The study reviews the demand-supply gap of public transport during the pre-pandemic and pandemic period and evaluates the challenges in practicing physical distancing with the short-term interventions, such as lockdown guidelines at different phases and long-term interventions, such as flexible work arrangements, on public transport. The study findings indicate that physical distancing on public transport is difficult to achieve at peak hours, even with the very high travel restrictions and lockdown measures, unless flexible work arrangements are implemented. The flexible work arrangements, such as staggered working hours and work from home, can significantly reduce peak-hour demand and total excess demand without altering the supply pattern. The study can guide in constituting transport and broader policy decisions, including developing low-risk public transport for the post-pandemic period.

A systematic review of COVID-19 transport policies and mitigation strategies around the globe

“…Governments around the world have established the lockdown as a strategy to stop the transmission of the virus. In this sense, Xin et al, 2021 , Parr et al, 2021 , Fountoulakis et al, 2022 , Yu et al, 2020 , Zhang et al, 2020 , Liu et al, 2020 , Thomas et al, 2022 , Lei and Ozbay, 2021 , Zhang et al, 2021a analyzed the required lockdown duration to stop the transmission of the virus, while Cartenì et al, 2021 , Kong et al, 2021 , Mogaji, 2020 focused on the effect of lockdown on virus transmission. Zhu & Guo (2021) perform the analysis on high-speed rail and Murano et al (2021) analyze the convenience of restricting air travel instead of issuing lockdown.…”

“…With respect to mobility restrictions , studies focusing on government assess spatially differentiated travel restriction policies, determine policy lag for mobility restrictions, and travel restrictions around epicenters and their immediate geographic surroundings ( Zanin and Papo, 2020 , Bian et al, 2021 , Parr et al, 2021 , Thomas et al, 2022 , Lima et al, 2021 , Gibbs et al, 2020 ). Zanin & Papo (2020) conclude that allowing individuals to move from regions of high to low infection rates may have a positive effect on the aggregate, although such positive effect is nevertheless reduced if a bidirectional flow is allowed.…”

“…Many governments have promoted change in activity/mobility patterns within the community, a strategy that has received much attention within the scientific community. To generate this change, measures such as work from home (telework) have been imposed ( Parr et al, 2021 , Thomas et al, 2022 ; R. Zhang and Zhang, 2021 , Marsden and Docherty, 2021 , Mogaji et al, 2022 ). ; Eregowda et al, 2021 ), flexible work arrangements ( Thomas et al, 2022 , Thombre and Agarwal, 2021 ), staggered working, school, services and organizations hours to eliminate peak commuting hours ( Thomas et al, 2022 , Bohman et al, 2021 , Mogaji et al, 2022 , Thombre and Agarwal, 2021 ), use of online/door-to-door services ( Thomas et al, 2022 , Zhang and Zhang, 2021 , Marsden and Docherty, 2021 ).…”

“…To generate this change, measures such as work from home (telework) have been imposed ( Parr et al, 2021 , Thomas et al, 2022 ; R. Zhang and Zhang, 2021 , Marsden and Docherty, 2021 , Mogaji et al, 2022 ). ; Eregowda et al, 2021 ), flexible work arrangements ( Thomas et al, 2022 , Thombre and Agarwal, 2021 ), staggered working, school, services and organizations hours to eliminate peak commuting hours ( Thomas et al, 2022 , Bohman et al, 2021 , Mogaji et al, 2022 , Thombre and Agarwal, 2021 ), use of online/door-to-door services ( Thomas et al, 2022 , Zhang and Zhang, 2021 , Marsden and Docherty, 2021 ). Bohman et al (2021) present a study about adjusting ticketing pricing and policies to meet new travel patterns, while Rajput et al (2022) study the impact of curfew in restaurants and bars.…”

“… Lee et al (2020) analyzes the total social distancing when returning to activity. Other authors analyze the physical distance in public transportation vehicles ( Liu et al, 2020 , Zhang et al, 2020 , Bilde et al, 2021 , Wang et al, 2022 , Yu et al, 2020 , Thomas et al, 2022 , Kamga et al, 2021 ). Mohammed Salih and Hussein (2021) analyze the effect of social distance on walking and cycling, and indicate that social distance can act as what they label an “Urban Antigen” to any epidemic.…”