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“The transport identified routes and services are reflective of the speed at which the variant is moving,and it’s brilliant work by the contact tracing teams to be able to get people that information.”
Public transport figures had crept up close to 70 per cent of pre-pandemic levels before Sydney’s latest outbreak,with 1.5 million daily trips recorded in May.
That dropped to below 1 million daily trips last week as social distancing requirements were reintroduced,as well as mandatory wearing of masks. Passengers on a handful of specific buses servicing the CBD,Sydney’s west and Hills District last week were identified as close contacts.
NSW Police Deputy Commissioner Gary Worboys on Wednesday said it was disappointing 43 of 59 infringement notices handed out in the previous 24 hours had been on the city’s public transport network.
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“We know that that is a vulnerable place in terms of people gathering together,” he said.
“We really encourage people to make sure that they wear a face covering,a mask,whilst they are on the public transport system.”
Capacity restrictions of roughly 25 per cent have been reapplied to the network,the most severe since last year.
That means 12 people are allowed on a bus,32 people per Waratah train carriage,26 per Metro carriage,245 on a Freshwater ferry and 22 on light rail carriages.
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Opposition transport spokeswoman Jo Haylen agreed with Mr Constance that commuters should social distance and obey public health advice,but said his state government had not done enough to make cycling to work a viable option.
“We’re on team NSW when it comes to following the health advice but it is disappointing that after more than six years in charge of Sydney’s transport,Andrew Constance hasn’t made it easier for people to ride their bikes safely to work,” Ms Haylen said.
Traffic on Sydney’s roads has also decreased,with 76 million car movements recorded on Tuesday,compared to 111 million daily movements in May,which was similar to pre-pandemic levels.
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