#UnlockDiaries: Using public transport in Bengaluru? Make sure the vehicle is sanitized and safe | Bengaluru News — Times of India
Bangalore Times conducts a spot check on safety measures maintained by the city’s buses, cabs, and autorickshaws
Yes, Bengaluru is slowly getting back to normal, with eateries, malls, and public transport reopening, albeit in a phased manner. This, however, does not imply that the virus has disappeared; what it does is that we can conduct ourselves in public with caution. Be it while traveling in a bus or cab, stopping by for a quick coffee at a restaurant, or making a trip to the mall, precautionary measures need to be maintained everywhere.
A few days after namma ooru stepped into Unlock Phase 1, Bangalore Times made a tour of the city to get a first-hand experience of how things are unfolding as far as public transport is concerned, and here’s what we found…
BUSES
Following reports of a Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) bus driver-cum-conductor testing Covid-19 positive, a number of depots in the city were temporarily shut and fumigated. Despite this, drivers and conductors do not seem to be taking precautionary measures properly. When BT took bus rides in three different routes in the city, it was found out that a lot of passengers were not maintaining social-distancing norms, while drivers and conductors were not using gloves and masks.
AUTORIKSHAWS
Zilch social distancing in shared autos, with three or more passengers allowed to cram in the rear seat.
Drivers find it inconvenient and unnecessary to wear gloves and masks. Rides are not contactless, as you still need to pay cash. Rides booked via apps are better, as these autorickshaws are equipped with partitions to ensure physical distancing.
RENTAL TRANSPORT
There is an emphasis on social distancing and sanitization, as mentioned on the apps to hire this mode of transport. But these vehicles don’t seem to have been even cleaned in the past few months. They are dusty and in desperate need of repair. Whether it’s a car, bike, or bicycle, there is no guarantee that they have been fumigated even once.
CABS
While cab services list precautionary measures on their apps, not much is in practice. A driver working with one of these cab services, said, “Despite claims that cabs are cleaned and sanitized daily, all we are given is a small bottle of disinfectant that we spray on the passenger’s seat after every ride. I haven’t sanitized my vehicle completely even once. I can’t afford it, and neither can the company.” Drivers also refuse to turn off the AC and wear a mask only while passing through a traffic signal.
BIKE TAXIS
The passenger is asked to sanitize his/her hands before and after using the bike taxi. However, these services are not very reliable, as a conversation with the drivers reveal that their employers do not provide them with basic precautionary gear — sanitizers, masks, and gloves. Passengers are requested not to hold the drivers while on the ride, and that’s all about it.
Watch #UnlockDiaries — A spot check on public transport in the new normal
Originally published at https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com on June 16, 2020.
