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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/may/12/physical-distancing-public-transport-dft-government-advice-lockdown
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| Physical distancing may not be possible on public transport, DfT admits | Physical distancing may not be possible on public transport, DfT admits |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| UK government issues advice for those who can’t avoid buses and trains during return to work | UK government issues advice for those who can’t avoid buses and trains during return to work |
| People who use public transport may not be able to practise physical distancing effectively, the government has admitted, as it published advice for those who can’t avoid buses and trains during a staged exit from lockdown. | People who use public transport may not be able to practise physical distancing effectively, the government has admitted, as it published advice for those who can’t avoid buses and trains during a staged exit from lockdown. |
| Anyone who needs to take public transport should wear face masks, keep their distance from fellow travellers and try to avoid rush hour, the Department for Transport (DfT) said. | Anyone who needs to take public transport should wear face masks, keep their distance from fellow travellers and try to avoid rush hour, the Department for Transport (DfT) said. |
| But the DfT conceded “there will be times and some settings on public transport where social distancing is not possible”. | But the DfT conceded “there will be times and some settings on public transport where social distancing is not possible”. |
| In such situations, people are being told to face away from other travellers, avoid physical contact and cover their face when coughing or sneezing. | In such situations, people are being told to face away from other travellers, avoid physical contact and cover their face when coughing or sneezing. |
| The department published guidelines that would help people minimise the length of time when they are unable to keep two metres apart from other travellers. | The department published guidelines that would help people minimise the length of time when they are unable to keep two metres apart from other travellers. |
| They include travelling at off-peak times, changing routes and stations to avoid busy areas, or walking part of the journey. | They include travelling at off-peak times, changing routes and stations to avoid busy areas, or walking part of the journey. |
| “The key thing is to not be too close to other people for more than a short amount of time, as much as you can,” the guidelines said. | “The key thing is to not be too close to other people for more than a short amount of time, as much as you can,” the guidelines said. |
| “The risk of infection increases the closer you are to another person with the virus and the amount of time you spend in close contact: you are very unlikely to be infected from just walking past another person.” | “The risk of infection increases the closer you are to another person with the virus and the amount of time you spend in close contact: you are very unlikely to be infected from just walking past another person.” |
| The transport secretary, Grant Shapps, urged people to join a “cycling and walking revolution”, highlighting plans to spend £2bn on changes such as pop-up bike lanes and wider pavements. | The transport secretary, Grant Shapps, urged people to join a “cycling and walking revolution”, highlighting plans to spend £2bn on changes such as pop-up bike lanes and wider pavements. |
| But he said that train and bus operators, as well as local authorities, have been told to increase the number of services they are running as people begin going back to work, to prevent overcrowding. | But he said that train and bus operators, as well as local authorities, have been told to increase the number of services they are running as people begin going back to work, to prevent overcrowding. |
| Speaking to MPs about the new guidance in the House of Commons, Shapps said: “Even as transport begins to revert to a full service, the 2-metre distancing rule will only leave effective capacity for one in 10 passengers overall.” | |
| The government’s guidance asks people to drive, cycle or walk to work if possible. Shapps said: “If people cannot walk, but have access to a car – and I appreciate that I will be the only transport secretary to say this for very many years – if people have access to a car, we urge them to use the car, before they consider public transport.” | |
| The advice for those who do use public transport includes standard physical distancing, wearing face masks, using contactless payment. | |
| Passengers should avoid rush hour, and wash their hands before and after travelling. | |
| Shapps also urged members of the public to “be patient, and be considerate, to fellow passengers and members of staff”. | |
| Labour’s shadow transport secretary, Jim McMahon, said the guidance for transport operators was too vague. | |
| “It leaves too much to chance and it fails to protect frontline workers. It risks a postcode lottery on standards and protections, and there is far too much ‘should, could, not always possible, as much as you can’, rather than clear, directive guidance,” he said. | |
| He pointed out that ONS data showed professional drivers, including taxi and bus drivers, have had some of the highest covid-19 fatality rates in the country – and challenged the advice that PPE was not necessary for them. | |
| The ONS said on Monday that among male taxi drivers and chauffeurs there have been 36.4 deaths per 100,000; and among bus and coach drivers 26.4 deaths per 100,000, compared with an average for men of 9.9. | |
| Public transport staff will make clear to passengers how to stay 2 metres apart in stations, which will be configured to ease the flow of distanced people and will also be cleaned more regularly. | |
| “Transport operators and staff have been working hard to ensure that people who need to get to work are able to do so, including crucial NHS workers and all those on the frontline of the fight against the virus,” said Shapps. | “Transport operators and staff have been working hard to ensure that people who need to get to work are able to do so, including crucial NHS workers and all those on the frontline of the fight against the virus,” said Shapps. |
| “Alongside the cycling and walking revolution we are launching, and clear guidance to passengers and operators published today, we can all play our part by following the advice and reducing pressure on public transport. | “Alongside the cycling and walking revolution we are launching, and clear guidance to passengers and operators published today, we can all play our part by following the advice and reducing pressure on public transport. |
| “If we take these steps, all those who need to use public transport should feel confident that they can do so safely, with the space to maintain social distancing as far as possible.” | “If we take these steps, all those who need to use public transport should feel confident that they can do so safely, with the space to maintain social distancing as far as possible.” |
| Anyone using a taxi may be asked to sit in the back left-hand seat, according to the guidance. | Anyone using a taxi may be asked to sit in the back left-hand seat, according to the guidance. |
| Those who share a car with people outside their household are advised to keep to small groups composed of the same people each time. | Those who share a car with people outside their household are advised to keep to small groups composed of the same people each time. |
| Drivers are being asked to be more aware of cyclists and pedestrians, whose numbers are expected to increase. If they share a car, for instance through a car club, they should disinfect door handles, steering wheels and other areas, wearing gloves. | Drivers are being asked to be more aware of cyclists and pedestrians, whose numbers are expected to increase. If they share a car, for instance through a car club, they should disinfect door handles, steering wheels and other areas, wearing gloves. |