A Healthy Journey: How to Protect Yourself When Riding on Shared Transportation
Heather Arranie 
In a perfect world, you wouldn’t ever come in contact with people who might be sick. But we can’t put our lives on hold forever. Despite the potential risk, many of us rely on public transportation to get to work, school, or travel.
Traveling in a private car is safer, but not everyone can afford that luxury. If you rely on public transportation, you may come into contact with high-touch surfaces every day.
Along with COVID-19, all kinds of germs and viruses linger on high-touch surfaces. We’re going to explore how you can protect yourself as an individual and the best practices for disinfecting the surfaces you come into contact with:
Planes
In for a long flight? Make sure you’re safe before take-off!
There’s something so exciting about boarding an airplane. But since the pandemic, taking a flight is associated with some uncertainty. You’re sharing an enclosed place with travelers from all around the world.
You might not know whether your seat was disinfected before you boarded the plane. Come prepared! In your carry-on bag, take a pack of disinfecting wipes. The travel pack is perfect for when you’re on the go.
You can apply the wipes to the seat, the drop-down table, and the armrests; basically, use them on any high-touch surface that you’ll come into contact with. Taking this safety measure before your flight will help you settle in for a safe, relaxing trip.
Buses
Social distancing is seldom possible on a crowded bus. During the busiest hours, you’re crammed in a small space with dozens of other passengers.
On a bus, there are all kinds of surfaces to watch out for; hand railings, buttons, and the seats themselves, to name a few. But you may not be able to disinfect high-touch surfaces before you’re in contact with them. After your bus ride, apply hand sanitizer to thoroughly disinfect your skin.
Ride-Sharing Services
Taking a cab or an Uber is more private than a bus; you’ll be in a car with one other person rather than a handful. Still, the surfaces you touch have been used by other passengers that utilized the vehicle.
A few high-touch surfaces to be aware of include:
- The seatbelt
- The car seat
- The door handles
- Window controls
As with other modes of public transport, we recommend sanitizing your hands once you exit the vehicle. Be sure to avoid touching your eyes, nose, or mouth until you have left the car and sanitized your hands.
Disinfecting Public Spaces
It’s one thing to manage germs in your home or workplace. But what about a public place that’s seen by hundreds or thousands of other people in a day? This is why it’s so essential to keep yourself safe in planes, buses, and ride-sharing vehicles.
It raises the question of how often disinfecting services are needed in these places. The answer? More often than is feasible. A bus driver can’t disinfect the vehicle each time a new passenger boards.
As an individual, you can follow the measures we’ve listed above to protect yourself in public spaces.
Staying Safe in Our New Normal
If we’ve learned anything over the last 2 years, it’s that the virus that changed the world is planning to stick around. As such, our enhanced cleaning and safety protocols need to stay put, too.
By disinfecting high-touch surfaces that you come into contact with, you can keep yourself (and those around you) safe. Keep these tips in mind the next time you take a plane or bus or are in a ride-share vehicle.
