International Perspectives on Public Transport Responses to COVID-19

Book excerpt: International Perspectives on Public Transport Responses to COVID-19 International Perspectives on Public Transport Responses to COVID-19 examines the pandemic response of transport policymakers around the world and analyzes what can be learned to prepare for the next epidemic—or any other critical event that threatens transportation services. It combines theoretical analysis with a compendium of country-focused case studies to provide scientific evidence and decision-making support for the actions that each transportation official must make going forward. This book begins with Part 1, a thematic and comparative section on response and recovery efforts. It provides insights into topics such as mitigation strategies and preparedness of the public transport sector to epidemics prior to COVID-19; responses during the COVID-19 pandemic and recovery from it; public transport services in urban and rural areas during the pandemic; and social (or physical) distancing and any other protective on-board measures. Part 2 then offers a set of international case studies, wherein various authors from different countries review their governments' and operators' responses. Each chapter is guided by a set of common research questions based on disaster mitigation theory. Part 3 then focuses on learnings and comparative analysis from the COVID-19 pandemic for future epidemic mitigation strategies in the public transport sector. Governments, public transport authorities and operators, as well as students and researchers will learn what has and has not worked well during the COVID-19 pandemic. These insights will help them to mitigate, prepare, respond, and recover from unexpected disruptive events like pandemics in the future. - Combines case studies (country-specific chapters) and analysis (thematic chapters) to enable a deeper understanding and provide different perspectives - Puts a clear focus on public transport, the most affected mode of transport amid the COVID-19 pandemic - Analyzes the COVID-19 responses in the public transport sector through the perspective of disaster management