Health expert says mandatory masks could drive up public transport patronage

South Australians are shunning public transport for cars. But mandatory masks on buses, trains and trams might get more people on them, says a health researcher. Have your say in the poll.

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Mandatory masks on Adelaide public transport could help to drive up patronage numbers that remain sluggish despite more and more cars hitting the streets, a member of the National COVID Health and Research Advisory Committee says.

Fran Baum, a Director of the Southgate Institute of Health, Society and Equity at Flinders University, has put forward the suggestion as The Advertiser asked experts why public transport was still being shunned in Adelaide.

The Advertiser revealed yesterday bus, train and tram use is still down by about a third from the same time last year.

Department of Transport data showed there were 815,806 trips across the bus, tram and train network last week – compared to 1,259,558 trips for the same week in 2019.

In comparison, The Advertiser earlier this month revealed 90 per cent of the traffic pre-COVID was now back on the road.

Professor Baum said one of the reasons could be that people wanted to avoid crowded places.

“Perhaps if mask wearing were recommended on public transport - or made mandatory - then people who be more likely to use it,” she said.

“The evidence would support that action.”

Last month Health Minister Stephen Wade said mandatory masks could make South Australians feel like Superman, creating an unwarranted sense of safety - a position he has not deviated from.

Acting Transport Minister Rob Lucas told The Advertiser yesterday measures have been taken to get people back on to public transport.

“The State Government has implemented various measures to instil confidence in the public that they can safely return to public transport,” he said.

“These include reconfigured train carriages, increased cleaning, social distancing ground markers and signage and hand sanitiser stations.”

Flinders University Professor of Civil Engineering at Rocco Zito said there were a number of advantages of a well used public transport system.

“It reduces the demand on the road infrastructure especially around the peaks,” Mr Zito said.

“Building the road infrastructure required to replace public transport trips would cost much more than running a public transport system.”

Professor Zito said getting people back onto public transport post COVID could be difficult.

“Perhaps using new technologies like advanced traveller information systems and autonomous first/last mile vehicles could provide the public with enhanced public transport services.

“In essence the challenge, and the opportunity, is offering the public a transport service that is safe, informative, reliable, and a better option than using a private vehicle – and that should see public transport patronage increase post-COVID.”

University of Adelaide senior lecturer in geography Jennifer Bonham, an expert in urban mobility, said there are a raft of short-term measures to help get more people on public transport.

The measures include

CREATING dedicated bus lanes on major cross-town routes and routes into the city

INCREASING value for money with better options so commuters pay for the period of time not per trip.

IMPROVING frequency of services.

“Adelaide has one of the best network coverages of all Australian capitals with about 70% of the population living within 400 metres of a stop or station,” Dr Bonham said.

“We need to increase the proportion of people within this range both through service provision and land use mechanisms

“Measures like Cycle Park’n Ride can also make stops and stations more accessible.”