The City will implement several measures at MyCiTi stations and on MyCiTi buses. Signage and posters informing and educating commuters about COVID-19 and personal hygiene to avoid being infected will be put up and distributed at facilities.

‘We are committed to delivering a safe and reliable MyCiTi bus service to our passengers during these uncertain times. We believe that it is possible to limit the risks if we all do our part in keeping ourselves and our immediate surroundings as clean as possible. The City is engaging the vehicle operating companies who are operating the MyCiTi bus service. The new measures will be implemented in due course, and will be strictly monitored by the City. In the meantime, we advise passengers to please avoid full or overcrowded buses as your health and safety comes first. We suggest that you rather wait for another bus,’ said the City’s Mayoral Committee Member for Transport, Alderman Felicity Purchase.

Tips to stay safe

Passengers are urged to practise meticulous personal hygiene while travelling. The City also recommends that commuters consider travelling outside of the peak-hour periods as far as possible to limit contact with other commuters and to avoid crowded vehicles.

1. The elderly and anyone with underlying health issues, a sore throat or a fever should avoid public transport or travel outside the peak to limit contact with others.

2. Wash your hands for 20 seconds with hand sanitiser or soap before and after using the bus

3. Try not to touch your face, especially your mouth and eyes

4. Avoid crowded buses - wait for another bus or work flexi-time so you can avoid the busy peak

5. If the bus is not too crowded, keep 1 metre away from others

6. Sneeze into the fold of your elbow or a tissue (wash or sanitise your hands as soon as possible)

7. Load as much money as you can on your myconnect card to avoid frequent queuing at kiosks

What MyCiTi is doing

The following measures will be implemented on the MyCiTi bus service in response to COVID-19:

• The City is investigating the provision of hand sanitiser to commuters with a means to cleanse their hands when they board a bus. Given the shortage, this may take some time. In the meantime, we urge residents to travel with their personal hand sanitisers at all times and to make use of it during and after their travels.

• The City is increasing the frequency of the MyCiTi bus fumigation and cleaning practices – this will apply to the interior and exterior of the buses. The buses will also be wiped down on the inside after both the morning and afternoon peak-hour periods, on a daily basis.

• MyCiTi station personnel will seek to limit the number of standing passengers on the bus to half of the standing capacity. This is to allow for social distancing between passengers as far as possible.

• The City will be monitoring the demand for the service, and if required, we will adjust the frequency of services accordingly.

• The City anticipates a decrease in passenger numbers over the next week given the unexpected closure of all schools and universities.