Even though states like New York and Hawaii have slowed down the pandemic, millions of Americans across the country are still advised to stay at home, indoors as much as possible. But a good percentage of people, such as hospital workers and grocery store clerks, still need to commute to their workplace.
People who don’t own cars now have to use public transit for the first time in months. But how safe is it to travel on a bus? Is there a better alternative? What can you do to stay safe while traveling?
In today’s post, we’re going to discuss:
How the pandemic has affected transportation
Whether ridesharing is a good transportation option
What you need to do to stay safe when using ridesharing
Without further ado, let’s begin…
Public Transportation During the Pandemic
Like most of you know, social distancing is key in containing the coronavirus. The reason for this is that the fast spread of the virus can be blamed on people who have mild symptoms. Many people are still unaware that they even have the virus because their symptoms are practically non-existent.
You need to be alert at all times if you opt for taking a train or a bus to work. For example, every time you see more than 10 people board a train or a bus, you should wait for the next one. Also, avoid:
Sitting next to another person, without an empty seat between the two of you
Holding on to metal poles, since coronaviruses live on metal surfaces for five days
Touching any part of your body after you leave the transport, without washing your hands
Riding a bike is a healthy alternative. However, if you live in an over-crowded city, riding a bike to work may take longer than planned. Long enough for you to be late. Plus some people's physical condition may prevent them from riding a bike.
What’s your best solution in this case?
Ridesharing During the COVID-19 Outbreak
Like many other industries, ridesharing has suffered a lot since the pandemic started. The two biggest players in the game, Uber and Lyft, both lost considerable amounts of money in the first quarter.
However, as FOX Business reports, both companies did beat the expectations for the first quarter. Moreover, both companies are going to make serious changes in the next few months. These changes are expected to have a positive effect on their revenues and help them bounce back financially.
The industry will undoubtedly bounce back. But that doesn’t answer whether ridesharing is a safe alternative to public transportation during this time. According to experts, it is.
Ellie Murray, Ph.D., from Boston University, says since public transportation will be crowded, ridesharing might be a better option for you. Some companies have even suspended accounts of people who’ve tested positive for COVID-19, so there less chance of exposure.
5 Ridesharing Safety Tips
Every time you leave your home, you’re exposing yourself to getting in contact with an infected person. No matter where you are, you need to take certain steps to ensure your safety. Here are five tips that will help you ride safely during your next trip.
1. Never Ride if You’re Sick
First off, you should call in sick at work and stay at home if you’re feeling ill. Moving around is completely irresponsible if you’re showing any possible symptoms. You need to stay home, call the doctor, and possibly get tested if this is the case. Rideshare drivers, just like any other workers at the moment, have enough on their plate as it is. This is not the time to be selfish, so if you’re feeling sick, stay at home for everyone’s sake.
2. Avoid Riding in the Front Seat
Even if you’re feeling completely healthy, you should avoid sitting in the front seat. You need to keep a safe distance between you and the driver. And the only way to keep a six-foot distance in a car is to stay in the backseat. Some companies, like Lyft, have even canceled carpooling altogether to motivate people to stay at a safe distance.
3. Never Enter a Car Without Mask
For the last couple of months, one of the biggest questions was, should you wear a mask or not? Recent research suggests that the airborne transmission of COVID-19 can be a major risk, especially in an indoor environment. That means you should wear a mask when ridesharing, for the next couple of months. Keep this in mind if you feel like not wearing a mask isn’t a huge deal: you can get infected if a coronavirus carrier sneezed inside the car.
4. Keep Your Hands to Yourself
As you’ve probably heard by this point, the coronavirus can survive on hard surfaces for hours or even days. Cars have plenty of parts where the virus could cling on and stay for days on end. Even though we don’t have a recorded case of someone getting infected this way, it pays off to be careful. Make sure to keep your hands to yourself, especially if you don’t have any gloves. In that case, make sure to ask the driver to open the door for you. Also, go to a restroom to wash your hands, as soon as the ride is over.
5. Make Sure to Tip the Driver
Try to repay your driver if they went out of their way to help you have a safe ride. Make a generous tip if you can afford it. As we mentioned before, the industry has taken a hit in the last few months. Many people are out of jobs. The ones that stayed in business receive considerably less money. Adding $5 would make a world of difference for some drivers. In the time of crisis, we should do everything we can to help each other. Leave a good tip and do your part.
Try to Stay Safe at All Times
What’s your best transportation option during the COVID-19 outbreak if you don’t have your vehicle? Definitely car sharing. However, here are a few things to keep in mind:
Public transportation is an option but requires a lot of care
Car sharing is safe but also requires some safety measures
Make sure to practice safety and support your local ridesharing service
Follow those tips and you’ll be able to use ridesharing just fine. If you ever need ridesharing in Nashville, download the Drover app from Google Play or App Store, and get yourself a safe ride.
