Metro Magazine, December 2020

TRANSIT BUSINESS Partner with the city to identify planned protest areas and adjust bus and train routes as necessary Many protests and marches are planned with the city so there is an opportunity for city leaders and transit agencies to be in constant contact with one another to prepare for large gatherings Given sudden surges in ridership it may require making necessary adjustments to routes stops and overall crowd control Make real time changes to routes if roads become closed to allow essential workers and other riders to still reach their destinations However some protests and marches are unplanned and transit agencies and cities must react accordingly with solid plans in place If the protest is located in a busy intersection or near a popular bus station cities and agencies must monitor the news and community updates to determine if routes need to be adjusted For example rideshare apps can send a notification to users during a ride that their original route has been diverted to back roads to avoid a new road closure Or bus signage can notify passengers that the new stop will be a few blocks down the road instead This not only helps essential workers and everyday travelers but also those who attend spontaneous gatherings Indicate where hot spots are and whether riders should relocate pick up or drop off locations Providing pop up notifications or signals for buses trains and rideshares keeps drivers and riders in the loop Such notifications can indicate if certain hot spots are near a riders pick up or drop off location giving them the freedom to choose and change their destination if necessary Utilize other forms of transportation such as micromobility vehicles to disperse crowds from hot spots When preparing for large events its important to have several modes of transportation available Working with cities and other nearby transit agencies can ensure all hands are on deck for transporting citizens to and from desired locations while remaining aware of happenings throughout the city Adding a diverse mode of transportation helps disperse crowds and enhance safety all while allowing riders to choose their desired mode of transportation with personalized routes Always be mindful of how to keep riders safe even amid a global pandemic Rider safety is paramount pandemic or no pandemic Cities and transit must adapt to meet the ever changing needs of both riders and cities while being mindful of how to manage safety as times constantly change By participating in public private partnerships transit agencies can access orchestration software that helps with many COVID safety protocols such as touchless fare payment contact tracing and allowing riders to see how crowded a vehicle is before boarding These tools keep riders safe during community gatherings during a pandemic Unplanned public gatherings during seismic national events are part of the framework of American life and its important for city leaders to facilitate citizens exercising these rights Instead of reacting cities must have a proactive plan in place for protests like they would for any other event Safety comes first while allowing for everyday activities to take place with a seamless travel experience Ben Haynie is VP Product at TransLoc Its been an unprecedented year of community action and protests in Americas streets Cities across the nation have seen an influx of people flowing into downtown regions due to protests in 2020 In fact recent polls suggest that about 15 to 26 million people in the U S participated in demonstrations this past spring Large unexpected crowds can result in significant disruptions that impact day to day activities forcing cities to deploy new crowd control measures close streets and more Cities and communities have been challenged with balancing citizens safety and protecting their First Amendment rights to peacefully assemble all while still providing the necessary means for citizens to participate in their daily routines During the spring protests some cities opted to shut down transit to enhance safety and discourage people from participating in unlawful behavior that was disruptive to protestors and non protestors alike However blocking the use of transit spurred controversy as closures disproportionately impacted travelers from urban and under resourced communities making it difficult for people to attend marches and gatherings Public transit services are significantly impacted when protests or civil unrest occur whether its overcrowded areas delays cancelled stops or street closures each of these outcomes reduce our ability to access mobility to important destinations Consequently transit agencies play a pivotal role in ensuring civilians are safe during protests while providing them the opportunity for a safe ride to and from the event Peaceful assembly is a constitutional right that transit and city planners must consider as part of the urban ecosystem as they would during times of celebration There are several ways transit agencies can prepare for potential civil unrest while protecting and supporting citizens A few include HOW TO CONTINUE SEAMLESS TRANSIT OPERATIONS DURING TIMES OF PROTEST BY BEN HAYNIE Peaceful assembly is a constitutional right that transit and city planners must consider as part of the urban ecosystem 52 Photo by Cameron Venti on Unsplash METRO MAGAZINE COM FACT BOOK 2021