Public transport empty and cars down during Sydney’s lockdown

Official travel data shows residents are driving or commuting less than they did ­during last year’s lockdown — and vastly less than ­before the pandemic.

Trains, buses and ferries have been abandoned and Sydneysiders are also making fewer car trips this lockdown than when similar restrictions hit in 2020, new Transport for NSW data reveals.

While people are anecdotally moving around more on foot, official travel data shows residents are driving or commuting less than they did ­between March and April last year – and vastly less than ­before the pandemic.

The data requested by The Sunday Telegraph examines car, bus, ferry, light rail and train trips in the Sydney and Hills District local government areas and in the locked-down Fairfield local government area.

In Fairfield, car movements have dropped 28 per cent this lockdown compared with the lockdown last year, and were down to almost half of what they were pre-pandemic.

Transport for NSW monitors car movements via hundreds of cameras across Greater Sydney.

The total number of car movements in Fairfield between July 26 and August 1 this year was just under 2.5 million.

Public transport patronage in Fairfield also plunged and is 55 per cent lower than during the first lockdown.

A deserted light rail stop at Circular Quay. Picture: NCA Newswire /Gaye Gerard

Since the start of the pandemic, public transport pat­ronage has declined by almost 90 per cent.

In the Sydney CBD, car movements dropped 23 per cent this lockdown and 56 per cent since the start of the pandemic, while the Hills District recorded a decline of just under 20 per cent this lockdown and more than 50 per cent since the first outbreak.

As for public transport, usage dropped in the city by ­almost 40 per cent compared with the last lockdown and just over 90 per cent compared with patronage before the pandemic began.

Across the various modes of public transport, city train pat­ronage plunged the most with a 45 or cent drop compared with the last lockdown, and a 92 per cent decline since before Covid-19 erupted.

Circular Quay train station is usually bustling. Picture: Toby Zerna

Ferry use has also plunged with a 43 per cent drop in ­patronage this lockdown compared with last year, and almost 97 per cent pre-pandemic.

Car and public transport movements during were compared with those in February 24 to March 1, before the 2020’s lockdown began.

Transport Minister Andrew Constance said the data showed the majority of people were doing the right thing.

“Our travel data shows ­people are moving around far less this lockdown than they were during the last lockdown,” he said.

“The data shows the maj­ority of people are doing the right thing and abiding by the Public Health Order.

“It’s really important everyone follows the rules to keep our community safe.”