Has the pandemic changed your relationship with public transport?

[Hairbrush123]

Not sure if this is the right place to post this but just interested to see what other people think.

Pre pandemic, I was an avid user of public transport and didn’t really drive my car anywhere except for places where it was not convenient for me to drive to/inaccessible to get to using public transport.

However during the pandemic, I haven’t been on any public transport since March. Can’t say I miss using it either. I used to get the train into the city centre (I live in Birmingham) as I always found driving into the city centre daunting but now I’ve been forced to (I could have used the train/bus but felt safer in my car) it’s not nearly as bad as I once thought. Weekends away would always have been done in the past using the train/coach but it’s definitely changed and DP and I take it in turns to drive to our destination and have noticed it’s cheaper to drive there too.

I would like to use public transport again once I get a vaccine but I definitely won’t be so dependent on it anymore like I once was! Anyone else feel the same?

I miss the trains. The only reason I’m not dependent on public transport is that all fun stuff is closed and work is now from home.

I normally cycle to work but on the occasion it was too wet/windy too cycle I would take the train rather than take the car. Now I’d take the car.

Yes I might have used local buses and trains to get about but now I either drive, walk or cycle. Haven't been on public transport since March.

Dont drive and so need to use the bus to get to work. And dont feel unsafe actually as quite spaced put and ventilated on service. Use it to visit elderly mother who has cancer and needs some help, emotional and cleaning as siblings live closer and can do her shopping. But havent used it much for leisure (pre 2nd lockdown) as in local restrictions and would feel could be judged if use it with my daughter to visit parks etc.

I miss using long distant trains (looking at you - Avanti ) which I will use again once I get a vaccine/feel safe doing so but I have no intention of using the train on a regular basis like I used to after the pandemic is over

I rarely used it as I’d either drive or walk. But just occasionally I’d take a bus as a treat for my daughter as she finds it great fun.

We’ve not taken a bus since Covid.... not worth the risk and also it needs to be as few people as possible (spatially) fir those who have to use it.

If I had to then I would but not through choice.

Member - that’s encouraging to hear. I walked pass bus the other day and couldn’t see any obvious signs of social distancing (it looked quite full) and that’s put me off using the bus . Hopefully that was a one off.

Used to use public transport at least once a week. Haven't been on a bus/train since March. Will walk or drive now. It's a shame as think dd would love catching a bus (she's 2) but feel since I've got other options I'm best leaving space on public transport for those who don't

Nope, hated it before and still hate it now. The possibility of catching covid is not the reason I rarely use it. If hell is other people, then Super Hell is other people on public transport.

Nope, I’ve had to use public numerous times during the past months and I always were my mask and hand sanitiser and have never had Covid as far as I am awar.

I can’t just magic up the money for driving lessons and a car so I couldn’t avoid it if I wanted to.

Gillian1980 - very true. I do not want to take a space away from someone else who doesn’t have any other options but to get the bus.

I use public transport most days and it’s never been cleaner and quieter.
I wish more people would get out of their cars, the pollution and congestion is terrible.

Yes - I love using the tube now! No more human pâte on the way to work! Big improvement.

I also live in Birmingham and we moved in Jan 2019 to very close to the no 50 bus route, which runs every 8 mins. It was a goal of ours to get rid of the car for environmental reasons and use public transport and bikes. So we ditched the car in the summer of 2019 and were fine, up until March this year. I had a change of shift hours due to covid (key worker) and ended up cycling to work for two reasons, no buses running at some shift start times and I was reluctant to get taxis.

So I have been cycling everywhere in all weathers, I doubt that a 50 year old like me would have before the pandemic but here I am, and happy with it too as it means I can eat more cake - yum.

I don't think I'll be back on the buses for work, but I will for leisure as it's no fun cycling in going out togs.

Yes. I used to send children (teens) to school on the bus (not a school bus). But since September I have been driving them. I realise that the risk from the overcrowded secondary school is much greater than the risk from the bus but it's something I can actually do something about.

Yes, I used to use the bus a lot but now I dont. I shop online and only take the kids places we can walk to.
Its a shame as they will cut the services down, I know, and they wont be there when I need them again.

I used to quite enjoy (apart from the morning element of it) the train commute down to campus with a cup of coffee. Always hated the return trip where it was crammed in.

Uni's largely online now - and the change in atmosphere with people being utter knobs to each other over covid has triggered such panic attacks in me I'm no longer able to cope with it at all, to the point I have a parking permit for uni (they're like gold dust) on medical grounds if I need to get down there.

I’ve definitely increased my walking habits. I loved walking but this pandemic has reminded me how lovely it is. I walked 12 miles (roundtrip) this week to pop into Waitrose (it was only to pick up a few things) instead of driving as it was such a lovely day and thoroughly enjoyed it!

I'm still getting public transport now and then (albeit not in peak times).

I'm so worried about the increased pollution from more car usage this crisis will cause. It's terrible for our health on so many levels (not least Covid, where several studies have shown the disease severity is worsened by poor air quality).

Nope. But I can't drive so using public transport is essential to me. I honestly don't give it a second thought. Haven't caught Covid that I know of yet.

DominaShantotto - I hope things get better for you. That sounds horrendous. At least you have a parking permit for uni.

ArialAnna - the pollution does concern me. I always try and walk when I can (I did before the pandemic anyway) and hope others do the same.

hated it before, don't love it now. So no change there.

I'm getting the bus less, because it seems unfair for me to do so; as a uni student with two school age children, I feel like a bit of a public health risk. Also, I'm skinter now (cheers covid) and the bus is expensive.

It's wet quite a lot. My hips get worse and worse the colder and wetter it is. It's shit. I'm really looking forward to the shift to fully online uni work, at least I don't have to walk 6 miles, in the rain, in pain.

I still get the bus to and from work a few times a week. Cba to worry about it.

Londoner here. I haven't used public transport since early March. Luckily, the local high street and supermarkets are all a short walking distance away and if I need to go further afield, then its Uber all the way. I don't drive.