The metro in Rome with social distancing measures.
The metro in Rome with social distancing measures. Matteo Trevisan/ZUMA

With people returning to work, there’s the question of how to get there. Many cities around the world are encouraging biking, walking and other private transportation methods to avoid clogging public transit systems that could be cesspools for the coronavirus as lockdowns ease. But for those without other options, taking trains, subways and buses will again become a part of daily life, though it will be anything but mundane. Here’s how four cities are handling the return of the commuter:

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Passengers wearing masks on the metro in Taipei. — Photo: Jin Liwang/Xinhua/ZUMA

  • Taipei: The Taiwan Railways Administration began requiring temperature-taking using infrared cameras and the Taipei metro has a similar system. Anyone with a fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher is banned from boarding. With its proximity to China, Taiwan enforced early containment measures nationwide, including daily and even hourly cleanings for trains and buses. Those arriving in Taiwan are banned from public transport and instead take epidemic-prevention taxis. Looking ahead, Taipei is also testing driverless buses, which eliminate drivers potentially becoming contaminated.
  • Casablanca: In March, the metro in Morocco’s economic capital limited tram capacity to 100 passengers per vehicle on the city’s two lines. Turnstiles, ticket validators and other equipment are cleaned regularly, with trams disinfected each night. The frequency of trams was also increased to spread out passengers, with similar measures in place for the tram system in Morocco’s capital Rabat.

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