Understanding the impact Covid-19 had on NYC transit riders is critical, as the transit system serves as a lifeline to countless New Yorkers, enabling access not only to work, healthcare, education, and social services, but to all the activities that comprise daily life. Therefore, it’s important to comprehend rider’s post-pandemic transit priorities, their Covid-19 awareness levels, and the elements that contribute to their overall sense of safety amidst increased violence on NYC subways and buses. Additionally, identifying factors that would encourage riders to continue to use NYC transit in another pandemic has the potential to foster a more resilient community of transit riders, helping to ensure that the NYC transit system remains a dependable resource in times of both crisis and stability.
With questions addressing the time period from the onset of the pandemic in March of 2020, to October of 2023, a survey of NYC transit riders was conducted by researchers at the NYU School of Global Public Health.To accomplish this, NYU partnered with The Rider’s Alliance, a New York City based grassroots organization comprised of subway and bus riders working to improve NYC’s public transit system from the rider’s perspective. Created by NYU researchers , the brief, anonymous survey was distributed via a link in The Rider’s Alliance October, 2023 monthly newsletter. The survey was open from 10/26/23 – 1/12/23, and during that time 311 members responded.
