Archived

What level of safety and assurance do vulnerable users require in order to return to using public transport since Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted?

Background

Build confidence in the transport network as the country
recovers from Covid-19 and improve transport users’
experience, ensuring that the network is safe, reliable, and
inclusive
Context
We must put the needs and expectations of current and potential users at the heart
of the operation of the transport system, especially given the significant impact
Covid-19 has had on both usage and perceptions of public transport. Ensuring that
our infrastructure and the services which use it meet the varied needs of businesses
and the public, are attractive, affordable, sustainable and resilient is a crucial goal for
the department.
Key areas of focus are:
• Building confidence and improving the public transport experience
• Improving the experience for road users
• Building a transport network that works for everyone
• Continually improving the safety, security and resilience of the transport system
The research and evidence needs listed below are integral parts to help deliver our
key areas of focus and address how we make progress against initiatives such as the
National Bus Strategy, William-Shapps Plan for Rail, and the Inclusive Transport
Strategy. This is more important than ever as the risks from COVID-19 reduce,
people build the confidence to return to public transport and new travel patterns
emerge. Social and behavioural science and research is core to the delivery of all our
programmes, including R&D. This is critical to ensure the development and delivery
of policy includes the needs of all groups, especially those often marginalised.

Next steps

Get in touch with BridgetoResearch@dft.gov.uk

Source

This question was published as part of the set of ARIs in this document:

Areas of research interest 2021

Related UKRI funded projects


  • Measuring Impact of Social Distancing on Transportation (MISDT)

    Social distancing policies have been imposed in response to the COVID-19 crisis. Citizens are being advised to keep a two-metre distance on streets, at stations, within shops, and on public transportation. These recommen...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: HUMANISING AUTONOMY LTD

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project measures the impact of social distancing on transportation and provides data to inform response and recovery strategies.

  • GCRF_NF359: Modelling the exposure risk tradeoff between public transit and private paratransit for transport decision making in the era of Covid19

    A safe and functioning transport system is vital to maintain economic activities in countries, developing or not. In most developing countries, the transport system is characterised by a crowded bus transit and micro-tra...

    Funded by: GCRF

    Lead research organisation: University of Leeds

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project models the exposure risk tradeoff between public transit and private paratransit, but does not specifically address the level of safety and assurance required by vulnerable users.

  • Improving Passenegr safety through the provision of Crowding information on all British RailwayTrains

    RASIC Ltd has been researching how to predict rail demand to improve operational responses to train delays and long-term timetable planning to better meet passenger needs. Even in today's technological world that rail op...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: RASIC LIMITED

  • Save-a-Space for social distancing in transport services

    This project addresses the urgent need for transport operators to be able to efficiently implement social distancing on their tram/rail services amid current COVID-19 restrictions and to optimally manage demand, access a...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: ACCELOGRESS LIMITED

  • Personalised Transport Messaging and Key Worker Analytics to Help Bus, Tram and Metro operators during the Covid 19 Outbreak

    We propose to develop a toolkit to support bus, tram and metro operators as they react to a rapidly changing transport landscape and need to provide support to key workers - both during the current disruption and then su...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: ZIPABOUT LIMITED

  • Covid Secure Travel Virtual Reality Simulation for Passengers

    Official statistics from the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) have revealed that rail passenger journeys across the UK fell to the lowest levels last seen in the mid-nineteenth century during mid-2020\. Working patterns are...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: CHROME ANGEL SOLUTIONS LIMITED

  • Increasing rail transport throughput while avoiding incentives to compromise social distancing: agent-based quantification leading to guidelines

    Public transport is crucial to economic activity, functioning cities and access to work, but presents many pinch-points (doors, confined areas of queuing, ticket gates) where social distancing is easily compromised. Thes...

    Funded by: COVID

    Lead research organisation: University of Sheffield

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project focuses on optimizing passenger flow to avoid compromising social distancing, providing guidelines for effective station operation and increasing confidence in rail use.

  • TiPA: Transreport intelligent Passenger Assist for resilience during disruption

    Transreport Limited is an innovative start-up developing disruptive software solutions connecting rail users to rail operators, which have evolved to focus on those facing challenges accessing the rail network, in order ...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: TRANSREPORT LIMITED

    Why might this be relevant?

    The project addresses disruption impacts on disabled passengers, which is related to improving the overall transport experience and resilience, but does not directly focus on safety and assurance for vulnerable users returning to public transport post-Covid-19.

  • Public Transport Distancing and Contact Tracing Platform

    It is vital to ensure that the nation's transportation systems can continue to function while maintaining required social distancing and the ability to contain localised outbreaks of Coronavirus via contact tracing. Not ...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: URBANTHINGS LIMITED

  • Real time measurement of UK Rail Passengers to enable social distancing during a pandemic

    The UK is currently experiencing severe disruption due to the Covid-19 lockdown, and ending the lockdown in a controlled way is vital to the UK's economic future. Public transport is critical to getting key workers to th...

    Funded by: Innovate UK

    Lead research organisation: RAZORSECURE LIMITED