The UK’s biggest bus company and rail operator has urged the Government to stop deterring people from using public transport as the country judders out of lockdown.
FirstGroup chief executive Matthew Gregory said it is time to ‘move away’ from appealing to passengers not to use trains and buses for non-essential journeys.
With people required to wear face coverings on public transport, he called on the Government to ‘change the message to the fact that public transportation is safe’.
Road traffic data reveals that Britons have been far slower to get back into the driving seat than their European neighbours.
A study comparing traffic levels in February to those between March and June in 19 European countries found that while the UK’s was at 67 per cent of pre-crisis levels, in France the figure was 112 per cent, in Italy 100 per cent, and in Germany 98 per cent.
Traffic in Britain has lagged behind its European and American neighbours since May, making the UK the slowest country to get moving again. This graph shows levels of traffic in London were lower than Paris, Berlin and New York by May 11. The city has not caught up
Traffic in the UK remains the same as mid-January, according to Apple. But in the US it is 30 per cent above this level, Germany 34 per cent up, and Italy 35 per cent up
Use of public transport languishes at 51 per cent of pre-crisis levels, data from Apple says. Walking is down 42 per cent and driving is down seven per cent
FirstGroup’s Matthew Gregory urged people to get back onto public transport
Rishi Sunak’s efforts to kickstart the UK economy, including reopening part of England’s hospitality sector, may be harmed by inconsistent messaging as the Department of Transport (DfT) continues to tell people to stay off trains and buses.
Mr Gregory said: ‘Face coverings are now mandatory on public transport and I think with that we can change the message to the fact that public transportation is safe.
‘We’ve enhanced the cleaning, we’ve enhanced the disinfectant, we’ve dealt with social distancing properly to try and avoid crowding.
‘We’ve made this case to government to start moving away from that avoiding public transport (message) because we have to get the economy moving again, people want to travel again and move again.
‘If we’re revitalising the hospitality industry, then we want people to go on public transportation, we don’t want them getting in their cars and having congestion and air pollution.
‘It was right at the time, but it is time now to move away from that messaging to something more that promotes the safe use of public transport.’
FirstGroup’s chief executive has begged the government to stop appealing to the public not to use public transport. Pictured above is London’s Jubilee line on July 6
Traffic in the capital is still at 83 per cent of pre-crisis levels, data shows
Figures for London reveal that time spent on the road and the number of miles covered per journey have been gradually increasing since April
Months of lockdown have caused FirstGroup’s shares to tumble by 23 per cent after it revealed a ‘material uncertainty’ over its ability to continue services yesterday.
Figures published by Apple reveal that while car use is seven per cent below mid-January levels, public transport use is down 49 per cent, and walking is down 42 per cent.
Passenger watchdog Transport Focus has written to the Transport Secretary, urging him to review the government’s communication strategy.
Chief executive Anthony Smith said: ‘It seems unfair that people who don’t have alternatives to public transport may be put off using it due to unclear or inconsistent messages.
‘People need to be clear on whether they can or cannot use public transport.
‘The Government and transport industry must urgently review the message it puts out.’
This data shows the drop off in car journeys from the start of the crisis in March. They tend to spike around weekend time
Traffic data from TomTom shows that the level of congestion continues to remain below what is expected at this time of year
Inrix, which compared traffic in European countries, said the data showed car use in the UK may not return to pre-crisis levels ‘for a while’.
It has prompted assertions that a ‘transport revolution’ may be underway in Briton, which will see more people walking or biking to work instead of taking cars and buses.
TomTom traffic data from today says congestion in London is at 28 per cent, 20 per cent less than the average at this time of year.
Figures from Apple also suggest that UK mobility trends are languishing behind Italy, Germany and the US.
While each country saw an at least 30 per cent increase in traffic compared to mid-January, UK traffic has remained steadfastly at the January level, with no increase.