The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically reduced ridership across the nation’s major subway systems, driven by an increase in working from home and fears about being exposed to COVID-19. However, over a year of data from around the world indicates that no outbreaks have occurred on public transit systems since the start of the pandemic.
Loopnet’s article, “Public Transit Safety Measures Hope To Help Commercial Real Estate Reopen,” researched and written by Camille Galdes, delves into why subway and trains across the country are indeed safe spaces that pose little to no COVID-19 transmission risk. In addition to layered mitigation strategies, such as social distancing and masks, trains across the United States are among the most well-ventilated indoor spaces. Given the role that aerosols play in COVID-19 transmission, commuting by public transit is much safer than many realize.
The article covers a number of safety measures that public transit operators have addressed, including:
- Masking,
- Ventilation, and
- Physical Distancing
As workers and offices around the country try to reopen, commuters should therefore consider using the array of public transit options available in their area.
For more information about transit and transportation during the pandemic, visit our Covid-19 Transportation Resources page.