Presence of tourists and perceived safety from COVID-19 among local bus users: Evidence from a Mediterranean city. (June 2022)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vich, Guillem; Gutiérrez, Aaron; Delclòs-Alió, Xavier; Tomàs-Porres, Josep; Miravet, Daniel
• Is Part Of: Transportation research interdisciplinary perspectives. Volume 14(2022)
• Publication Date: 2022-06
• Subjects: Covid-19 -- Tourism -- Public transport -- Sustainable mobility -- Safety perception; Transportation -- Periodicals; 388.05
• DOI: 10.1016/j.trip.2022.100599
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2590-1982

Abstract

Highlights: Travelers continuing to use the public bus reported a moderate perceived safety. The presence of tourists on buses was associated with higher of perception of risk. This risk mostly happened among users already very preoccupied by the contagion. Public transport captivity showed the strongest influence on perceived safety on buses. This association could explain the significant influence of age and income. Findings will help transport managers to maintain ridership in future outbreaks. Abstract: Since the start of COVID-19 pandemic, public transport has been signalled as a potential contagion hot-spot, leading to a generalised decrease in its use. However, public transport use is still being used and little is known about how the perception of loyal users is configured in contexts of influenza-like viruses such as SARS-CoV-2. The configuration of the perception of safety acquires a critical importance in urban contexts where the public transport system is used both by tourists and local users. The presence of strangers or higher crowding levels could impact the perception of safety among residents and their consequent travel behaviour. In the present study, we explored how the presence of tourists influences the configuration of the perception safety related to the transmission of COVID-19 on public transport of daily users. We used data from an ad-hoc survey conducted at the main bus stations and stops of the Tarragona Urban Area (Catalonia, Spain) between August and September 2020. This area includes the Costa Daurada coastal destination. The 2020 summer holiday season was characterised for the relaxation of mobility restrictions and the start of the second wave of COVID-19. Results show how the presence of tourists in buses negatively influenced the perception of safety of local users. However, this influence can be mostly explained to their prior perception of risk of contagion. These findings will be useful for policymakers and public transport managers in both the latter stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and future virus-related epidemics to maintain public transport ridership.