Takeaways: Bay Area Transit Rider Forum on Health & Safety
Transit riders, advocates, and leaders from across the Bay Area convened in a lunchtime forum on July 9 to voice their thoughts on the safety of public transit amid the uncertainties of the coronavirus pandemic. The forum - jointly hosted by Seamless Bay Area, Friends of Caltrain, San Francisco Transit Riders, United Seniors of Oakland and Alameda County (USOAC), Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action, and the Youth Leadership Institute - fostered a discussion among Bay Area riders about their public transit riding habits and how they may have changed due to COVID-19, as well as their perception of safety on public transit.
On July 9, Seamless Bay Area, Friends of Caltrain, San Francisco Transit Riders, United Seniors of Oakland and Alameda County (USAOC), Silicon Valley Youth Climate Action, and the Youth Leadership Institute co-hosted a forum for Bay Area transit riders focused on health and safety.
Status of Bay Area Transit
The forum began with a presentation by Seamless Bay Area’s Ian Griffiths summarizing the current state of Bay Area transit. Since the pandemic began:
Non-essential travel has been discouraged, with restrictions in place on the number of riders that can board a transit vehicle
Transit agencies across the region have seen ridership fall by about 70-80% overall, leading to corresponding service reductions
National studies suggest that the 20-30% of remaining riders are disproportionately transit-dependent, lower-income, and people of color
The Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC) has assembled a Blue Ribbon Transit Recovery Task Force comprised of transit agencies, elected officials, and advocates with an intention of developing health and safety guidelines and other reforms to help rebuild transit in the Bay Area
Transit can be safe: no coronavirus clusters have originated from public transit vehicles in large cities around the world
Bay Area transit agencies have responded with frequent cleaning of vehicles, along with signs and reminders for riders to wear masks and maintain social distancing
For more details, watch Ian’s presentation here, or download the presentation slides.
Forum Highlights
Frequency of Transit Use
Nearly all of the forum’s 80 attendees have seen their use of public transit decline with the onset of the pandemic, especially since the local and statewide shelter-in-place orders have limited all movement to only essential travel. Therefore, many have stopped using public transit altogether since their travel needs have disappeared. Schools in the region have largely been closed and many workplaces have allowed their employees to telecommute or work from home. Those who are able have switched their primary mode of transportation to their personal vehicles (including cars, bikes, and/or scooters), should they need to travel.
Others have noted that the current state of transportation is simply too difficult to navigate. Shawn Fong, a local program manager in transportation, noted that the unpredictability of transit, like full buses leaving passengers behind at the stop or even cancelled trips, could lead to riders becoming stranded. Helen, a disabled transit rider, echoed Shawn’s sentiments and bemoaned the various schedule changes and service reductions that have become overly restrictive for her mobility.
Those who continue to utilize public transit during the pandemic tend to be transit-dependent riders, who lack access to a car or other modes of transportation. Destinations for such riders include shopping centers, workplaces, doctor’s offices, among other locations to run errands. Mike, a senior citizen residing in Concord, continues to ride County Connection to get around and is considering whether to resume riding BART again soon to reach an appointment in San Francisco.
These transit-dependent riders know firsthand the experience of riding transit during a pandemic. Margarita Vazquez, a program coordinator for Youth Leadership Institute in Half Moon Bay, expressed gratitude that transit is fare-free and noted that the riding experience was clean and safe. Other pandemic riders had similar experiences to Vazquez, appreciating that vehicles are kept visibly clean, the number of riders are limited and required to board through the back door, and the driver is screened off and is a distance away.
Bay Area transit agencies have responded to the COVID crisis with more frequent cleaning of vehicles. (Photo by AC Transit)
Perception of Public Transit
Pandemic riders, however, emphasized their concerns about safety risks as buses fill closer to capacity and social distancing becomes difficult, or if other riders are not wearing masks. Tom Barton, a longtime Muni rider, expressed concerns about adequate social distancing while waiting at bus stops and called for guidance on what riders should do if buses are too full. He said that not everyone has the time or physical capability to wait for the next bus, especially when it comes to older and more at-risk riders.
Prospective riders also expressed similar reservations about returning to public transit as the region recovers from the pandemic. Marie Mai of Milpitas said that she would welcome implementation of an enforced universal mask order for anyone who boards public transit, a request that numerous speakers declared would make them feel more confident in their choice to return. Pam, a Fremont resident, touched on ventilation on buses and trains, and wondered if leaving windows open could diminish the risk of airborne virus transmission--a strategy that has been adopted by New York City’s MTA.
Closing Thoughts
The need for social distancing and the ongoing restriction of passengers for any given transit vehicle continue to serve as hurdles in a widespread return to public transit. Many commuters continue to remain at home or heed the call from SFMTA Director Jeffrey Tumlin and other regional leaders to stay off transit to make room for those who absolutely need it.
But as businesses, industries, and workplaces begin reopen, ridership on public transit will inevitably increase as riders come back to transit hoping to return to pre-COVID habits, perhaps, or trying to avoid traffic congestion. But with higher ridership comes a greater risk for pass-ups, a concern raised by Fremont’s Shawn Fong along with several AC Transit bus drivers and riders during the agency’s board meeting on July 8. During the forum, Fong praised BART for publishing “crowding charts” of passenger loads, a solution which allows riders to identify and choose trains with a lower potential for crowding, thereby enabling social distancing.
Meanwhile, transit agencies including Muni and AC Transit have recently announced plans for major service reductions in the coming year, prompting anxiety and concern from riders and advocates. These impending cuts, however, hinge upon whether and how many riders ultimately decide to give transit another try post-pandemic, effectively restoring agencies’ farebox revenue. This creates a difficult dilemma for many local agencies when it comes to their annual budget as they attempt to balance the narrow line between bringing riders back while also finding ways to keep them safe.
Cat Carter, Interim Executive Director of San Francisco Transit Riders, talks about mask compliance during the July 9 forum.
Effectively, pandemic transit riders and those returning to transit have become the de facto ambassadors of public transit. It is not a role that any of these riders have sought out, but transit providers, local governments, and especially hesitant prospective riders are all closely watching the state of public transit in order to make their next move--whether it is a service change, new policy, or simply a decision on when to begin trusting transit again. These concerns are out of the control for any given individual rider, but one easy step can make all the difference: wearing a mask.
After all, a common theme throughout the forum is that universal mask compliance would be a strong indicator that fellow riders are following the rules and making the riding experience as safe as possible. This basic decency is the most accessible and substantial step in helping local transit agencies recover, as it convinces former riders to get back onto transit while maximizing the possibility that increased passenger loads can be safe. Policymakers are thus given a better chance at avoiding any major cuts to transit service.
The key takeaway from the forum is that transit leaders, agencies, and advocates must think about how to convey the message that transit can be safe if utilized correctly. A coordinated media campaign demonstrating the various safety, cleaning, and other mitigation efforts could convince additional riders to board and trust transit, an essential step in the recovery of our transit system.
A complete compilation of all the rider comments received during the July 9th Rider Forum is here.