The Department for Transport (DfT) published Safer Travel Guidance for Passengers earlier this week, which Nottingham City Transport has now reviewed and are following in full.
When thinking about travelling, people must STAY ALERT and this means they must:
- stay at home as much as possible
- work from home if they can
- limit contact with other people
- keep their distance if they go out (2 metres apart where possible)
- wash their hands regularly
- self-isolate if they or anyone in their household has symptoms
The government’s advice is that people should avoid using public transport where possible and if they travel, they should think carefully about the times, routes and way they are travelling to stay safe. Those who can work from home should continue to do so. This helps to ensure that public transport is available for key workers and those who cannot work from home.
People MUST NOT travel if they:
- are experiencing any coronavirus symptoms
- are self-isolating as a result of coronavirus symptoms or sharing a household with somebody with symptoms
- are clinically extremely vulnerable
- are not making an essential, necessary journey
The Department for Transport’s Guidance says:
“Public Health England (PHE) recommends trying to keep 2 metres away from people, where possible, as a precaution. However, this is not a rule and the science is complex. The key thing is to not be too close to people for more than a short amount of time, as much as you can. There are situations where this may not be possible, for example when boarding or alighting, on busier services, at busier times of day, when walking through bus stations and interchanges”.
Customers are encouraged to wear a face covering if they can and they need to use public transport.
The full guidance is available on our website athttps://www.nctx.co.uk/safer-travel-guidance-customers and customers are encouraged to read and follow it to keep everyone safe.
Throughout the coronavirus outbreak, NCT has always followed government advice for the transport sector at all times, for both our customers and employees, and we will continue to respond to changes in guidance. We’re taking our responsibility seriously and NCT will continue to:
- review and implement government advice and guidance
- communicate regularly with our customers
- rigorously clean our buses, paying additional attention to the parts of buses that are most commonly touched, such as doors, poles, bells, card readers.
- provide our employees with access to wipes, gloves, facial coverings and hand sanitiser
- close off some seats on buses to support social distancing
- reinforce messages to our employees about the expectations and requirements on them on the bus and when at work
- monitor usage and loadings per journey and look at ways we can provide additional capacity, where resources allow
- enforce that where any employees who show any symptoms or are living with someone who has symptoms that they self-isolate and do not return to work until they provide a negative test result
- regularly communicate with our employees and recognised trade union, Unite
The number of people using NCT buses this week has been broadly similar to the last few weeks during lockdown. An announcement will be made next week on service levels, once we complete our review of the guidance to operators issued by the Department for Transport.