Only a few passengers ride a subway train in the southeastern city of Daegu on Feb. 21, 2020, amid the spread of the new coronavirus. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, March 3 (Korea Bizwire) — A big drop in usage of public transit following the coronavirus outbreak is being met by ‘positive’ responses from local citizens, who typically have to contend with overcrowded buses and subway cars.
“There are no people in Sadang Station,” said a local office worker. “I always used to wait in line when transferring to a different subway line. Now, I don’t have to.”
Sadang Station is notorious for being overcrowded by more than 150,000 people who come to transfer between Lines 2 and 4.
Some citizens say public transportation has become more enjoyable, now that there are fewer people with bad public manners. “Nobody’s trying to get on before I get off,” said one online user.
Seoul’s public data unveils the clear difference in the use of the subway before and after the coronavirus outbreak.
In the case of Seoul Station, the daily average number of passengers from Jan. 7-10 was 61,295 people. From Jan. 28-31, following the coronavirus outbreak, the numbers dropped to 56,406 people.
Sindorim Station (Line 2), one of the most crowded stations in Seoul’s subway system, recorded 62,539 passengers daily from Jan. 7-10. By Jan. 28-31, the numbers plunged to 58,455 people.
The drop in usage is expected to deepen once the numbers for February, when the coronavirus accelerated its expansion, are published.
H. M. Kang (hmkang@koreabizwire.com)
