As the Covid-19 pandemic changed the dynamics for public transportation, relentless calls for social distancing and essential health directives were left unheard. Buses and other public transports remain packed.
In such a context, a survey, titled “Intergenerational Perspective of Travel Behavior”, concluded that motorbikes were the safest mode of transport.
Shayla Jamal, a PhD student in McMaster University in Canada, conducted the survey on over 300 people that include service holders, teachers and general citizens from multi-sectoral socioeconomic classes.
According to the survey, 75 per cent of Dhaka’s population believes that it is not possible to travel in public transportation and maintain physical/social distancing at the same time.
On the other hand, very few individuals can afford a private car.
Ride-sharing services available are no good option, the survey finds, as the virus can be present on seats, door handles, and can be transmitted from the driver as well.
At the same time, Bangladesh’s humid and dusty weather coupled with rain makes it difficult for office goers and students to use bicycles. In which case, motorcycles and scooters have gained the most amount of acceptance in terms of safe transportation to use during the pandemic.
More than 80 per cent of the participants of the survey believe that it is possible to maintain social distancing and adhere to health guidelines while riding on motorcycles.
The survey also found that 79 per cent of the participants believe motorbikes are relatively safe and risk-free vehicles to travel on during the pandemic.
A total of 84 per cent of the participants feel that motorcycles are convenient vehicles and 69 per cent people feel that bikes are an economic choice.
Roughly, 33 per cent of the participants have expressed their interests in buying a bike by next year, the survey found.
