A breath of fresh air for public transport users

Although the COVID-19 pandemic is in the rear view mirror, stronger assurances about infection control on public transport is key to bringing the most apprehensive passengers back on board.

New research carried out by Frontier and BMG Research for the Department for Transport (DfT) has found levels of concern about infection on public transport varies greatly for travellers. Whilst previous research commissioned by the DfT in November 2023 found that almost a fifth of respondents had avoided public transport due to infection concerns, our new report shows greater nuances in passenger confidence.

Our team conducted a brief, non-systematic literature review to contextualise the current landscape and inform our approach to primary research, allowing us to build a foundational understanding of infection-related anxieties in public spaces.

This was followed with 24 in-depth interviews with members of the public who held concerns about infections while using public transport. Conducted across January and February 2024, these interviews were provided a range of perspectives and insights into the unique motivations that drives transport behaviour.

Our approach has helped explore behaviour changes in the use of public transport, and the role played by infectious concerns. Through the in-depth interviews we analysed the underlying motivations these changes, the impacts on people’s lives and how they adapted their behaviours in using public transport when faced with different levels of health concerns, from minor changes (not sitting next to someone who looks ill) to larger changes (switching to car)

Read our full report now on the DfT’s website.