2m social distancing is still a requirement in Wales. While I am firmly of the opinion that social distancing cannot go on forever, we clearly still have too many infections to abandon it just now. Going back to buses and trains crowded as they were pre-covid would be madness at present. I know that there are a vocal minority that believes we should just get back to normal life, and let the virus do its worst, but fortunately that is not the majority view.
If the Welsh Govt just gave the green light for everyone to use public transport like they did pre-covid, then the crowding levels would almost certainly lead to increase in infection rates, and essential workers could get crowded out. The current system where people are discouraged from using public transport means that those who act responsibly and stick to the guidance aren't travelling, but there is no penalty for those who choose to ignore it. As a non-car owner, I feel that this is clearly unfair, discriminating against those without cars and who choose to do their public duty. But sometimes you just have to accept that life is not fair.
And let's be clear, this is purely guidance: people are being asked to act responsibly and do their public duty to reduce the rate of infections.
What is the alternative, to ensure that public transport usage doesn't go back to crowding levels that would allow the virus to spread rapidly again?
My local bus company is this week consulting on introducing pre-booking, which will be very restrictive. If too many people ignore the guidance, I suspect that this may become a reality.
As I understand it, 2 m is the law (where possible) for businesses in Wales, but specifically that doesn't apply to public transport.
But I'm with you, the time has not come to abandon all restrictions and no I wouldn't want to see trains and buses as crowded as before, and I haven't been calling for the Welsh Government to give a green light for everyone to use public transport. (I have a strong suspicion though that if they did given that so many people have been scared off most services would still be OK.)
What I have been asking for is a more nuanced approach, one that recognises that most trains are running round empty and a total ban on non-essential travel is overkill. My local train to town generally only had a handful of people on it off-peak in daytime pre-Covid. It can't be the only one. So saying that I can't use any train for a day out because it might overcrowd it for "key workers" is the easy answer but in my mind the wrong one.
Even if it takes reserving for short rail journeys, that's better than just saying you can't travel at all. And I think there are plenty of services that could just be thrown open to all-comers without consequence.
And you're right it's purely guidance, but why should people without cars have to choose between being stuck at home and actively going against government advice - and because of the blanket ban there's no way of them knowing which services they might be able to use without causing problems.
I would also like some acknowledgment of the impact this is having on the poor, the disabled, and those who thought they were doing the right thing by not building their lives round a car - especially given these are the people who supported the public transport system in the past and have helped ensure it exists now. They are all supposed to sit tightly at home, waiting for things to get better, and then when it's time all flood back to public transport. Assuming we still have public transport after this.
Plenty of people will have no choice. But as for the rest? The message seems to be learn to drive if you possibly can, get a car if you can, and give up on public transport. I don't see what moral authority the government will have in the future to try to get people out of their cars when they have shown that they are happy to abandon them so comprehensively.
Even if the government and operators acknowledged that they appreciate how unfair this is, and that it's very difficult to find a way of letting more people travel but are working on it, it would be something.