(06 Jul 2021, 8:18 pm)IRHardy wrote Since March 2020 I have only been on 4 bus journeys as a result of having to wear a face nappy while using buses, because I don't like anything covering my face, in the winter I don’t wear a scarf because of this..
My employer was encouraging people not to use public transport so instead of using the bus I have driven to work. At work I only have to wear a face nappy when I leave my desk.
Pre-COVID my personal choice was to use the bus to get to & from work and not to drive and I have got a lot less read as a result of driving instead of sitting on the bus for 30 minutes each way. I used to go on about 800 bus journeys a year and I cannot wait to get back to travelling around, not to have to wear a face nappy all the time and to be able to breathe as well.
I feel a bit for operators, as to an extent they're stuck between a rock and a hard place. Passengers, and potential passengers, on both sides of the mask debate will be influenced by masks when they decide if they're going to use the bus or not. My parents have been Metrocentre stalwarts for years when it comes to shopping, but last week chose to have a mooch in Newcastle instead so they didn't have to wear a mask for the whole time.