Lessons From Climate and Pandemic‐Induced Disruptions in Building Public Transport Resilience

Abstract

The transport system faces numerous disturbances from climate change and other events, such as the Covid‐19 pandemic. This study evaluates the resilience of public transport systems by applying the qualitative 4R framework—robustness, redundancy, resourcefulness, and rapidity—to four case studies drawn from the UK, South Africa, Mexico, and the United States. The analysis demonstrates that climate‐induced disruptions predominantly expose infrastructural weaknesses and strain institutional capacity, while pandemic‐related disruptions challenge the adaptability and operational flexibility of transport services. Notable findings include the critical role of early warning systems, the significance of sustained investment in resilient infrastructure—as evidenced in the UK and Mexico—and the detrimental impact of inadequate infrastructure maintenance, particularly in South Africa. The study advances recommendations for enhancing resilience, emphasising the adoption of integrated, multimodal transport systems, and reinforcing institutional coordination and planning capacity.