Although it is not business as usual at the moment, it is a known fact that Public Transport is one of the essential services on the island. Therefore the country is committed to keeping this essential service running in a safe environment for as long as it is reasonably possible. On the other hand, due to the unfortunate lack of abidance and enforcement of the Superintendent of Public Health recommendations to apply social distancing, the use of this mode of transport is to be discouraged.

The interiors of buses and terminals are the perfect environment for a droplet-spread disease like COVID-19 in view that handles and seats inside buses and handrails at terminals are prime surfaces to host infectious nose and throat discharges. Moreover, in rush hour, masses of people congregate in these areas thus increasing considerably the risk of direct contact with an infected person.

It is a known fact that there was a significant reduction in the number of people using public transport when the CORVID-19 pandemic surfaced in Malta. From preliminary calculations, such reduction amounts to approximately 75% from the normal amount of commuters. Consequently, the government together with the Public Transport Operator, must utilise better its present resources (both workforce and public transport vehicles) to provide a safer public transport.

The Drivers

The role of public transport workers will remain crucial and essential throughout the entire crisis and the first priority is to keep bus drivers as safe and protected as possible due to their high risk exposure. Although isolating drivers by installing perspex shields to reduce the contact between the commuters and the drivers was a step forward, without doubt this is not enough. Some more steps to be undertaken  to ensure the safety of the drivers of this essential service are the following:

·         Payments must be effected only by Tal-Linja Card and therefore no cash payments whatsoever must be accepted;

·         Each and every driver must be provided with the necessary protective clothing like masks, gloves and eye protection goggles;

 

·         Hand sanitizers / appropriate disinfectant wipes must be provided to all drivers and the regular use of these hand sanitizers / disinfectant wipes must be enforced on the drivers;

·         The deployment of basic cleaning practice of the cabin by the driver himself so that he can clean his cabin (including dashboards) at the end of each and every trip. Moreover, a more thorough cleaning practice of the cabin  must be undertaken by trained personnel when change of the driver occurs;

·         Checking of fever of the drivers must be undertaken at each and every arrival and departure from depots and when changing of the drivers occurs;

·         Social distancing during breaks between the drivers themselves and public transport staff must be enforced;

The Commuters

Another issue is how to contain the spread of the virus with the commuters. Although on the 13^th March 2020 the government accepted a proposal by the Opposition that no standing passengers will be allowed in buses, unfortunately this measure is not being enforced by the government, thus endangering the public health. In view of the CORVID-19 spread, there was a change in pattern of the utilization of public transport by commuters. Such change in pattern, through better re-organization of the routes, can help to minimize the spread of the virus while at the same time keep this essential service running.

On average, before the spread of COVID-19 in Malta, the frequency of the routes was every 20 minutes between 5.00am to 10:30pm. Unfortunately, since the COVID-19 pandemic spread in Malta, it is evident that the frequency of the routes and the number of buses was decreased instead of increased.

If the number of trips is not only kept as it was before the spread of COVID-19, but even doubled during rush hours, while on the other hand the number of trips is reduced by half during non-rush hours, the number of trips will remain the same while at the same time the capacity of the busses on the routes during rush hours will be increased significantly. Coupled with the drastic decrease in commuters (by approximately 75%) and the significant reduction in traffic congestions thus a reduction in travel time, such action will be minimizing the risk of direct contact of commuters with an infected person.

In addition, the following measures should be undertaken and consequently enforced by both the Public Transport Operator and Transport Malta in lieu of commuters availing themselves of the public transport:

·         The provision of hand sanitizers on every bus and consequently each commuter on both entering and existing the bus must sanitize his hands;

·         Covering the nose and mouth when coughing and sneezing;

·         The provision on each bus of appropriate disinfectant wipes so that in the event of a passenger spreading droplets (such as through sneezing and coughing) on surfaces, these can be cleaned immediately;

·         Thoroughly cleaning and sanitizing of the bus by trained personnel at least 7 times a day, immediately before and after the rush hours and at intervals not exceeding 4 hours. Fumigation of all buses used in service throughout the day shall still be carried out during the night;

·         All windows must be kept open and, if necessary, alterations to the exiting buses (where possible) must be undertaken so that more fresh air will be let in the buses;

·         Apart from the measure already taken that no standing passengers will be allowed in buses, the seating plan on the buses shall be changed drastically in order to keep, as far as possible, a safe distance between commuters in the bus. This can be achieved when taking into account the increase in trips during rush hours and the reduction of trips during non-rush hours coupled by the present reduction of 75% of the number of commuters using the public transport. Consequently, each seat on the bus can be available for each commuter in a staggered manner;

·         Direct contact with other passengers, drivers and other transport staff must be avoided at all times;

·         Drivers will be empowered to enforce these rules although such authority must not be abused;

·         Malta Transport and Public Transport Operator Enforcement Officers must be deployed from 5.00am to 10.30pm on each and every route so as to enforce any shortcomings with hefty fines for the operator, the commuters and the drivers if they do not abide to these rules.

Containment measures should be also imposed by regulation on private transport services providers like mini-buses, taxis and ferries. The same measures that apply to buses should be extended to these categories with the addition that no passenger should be allowed to stay in the front seats in the case of mini-buses and taxis.

In view to safeguard public health and minimising the spread of COVID-19 in Malta, the above mentioned precautionary steps must be strictly followed and enforced in all public transport services. Consequently, these essential services can be kept running in a safe environment as long as it is reasonably possible.

 

 

Perit Toni Bezzina

Spokesperson for the Opposition for Transport and Infrastructure