A top Merseytravel official has responded to commuters' fears over queuing at bus and train stations - and given crucial advice ahead of people returning to offices and schools.
With the summer holidays soon to end and more and more businesses asking employees to return to the office, public transport is expected to get busier over the coming weeks.
But Joanna Sawyer, corporate communications manager at Liverpool City Region transport body Merseytravel, has warned commuters against rushing back to their old routines, as well as responding to concerns that bus and rail hubs are being filled with long queues due to new measures imposed by the coronavirus crisis.
At the Liverpool BID company's monthly Visitor Economy Panel virtual session held on Thursday, she was asked to address those fears, and whether queuing had already become a reality.
She said: "It's not so much [a reality] at the moment because we're not seeing the movement we would usually have done pre-Covid, but we anticipate that will change.
"There may or may not be queues. Just give yourself a little bit more time.
"Don't think that you can suddenly go back to work on Monday, and do your usual routine, race to the station or bus stop, jump on the bus you've always got, and get to work at the usual time.
"You've just got to factor in a little bit more planning and anticipate there may be the odd delay. You might not get the service you want but if you factor that in we can still get you to where you need to go."
Ms Sawyer was also asked to address the issue of people not knowing if or when their regular bus is coming, with service capacities still reduced due to the coronavirus.
She said: "It has been difficult. Frequencies may have changed. Capacity up until this point is something we have to take into consideration because of social distancing.
"Every effort is being made to make sure we can get that capacity and frequencies and timetables back to pre-Covid levels.
"But there will be measures and behaviours that we have to adopt to help keep those going.
"It's really important for people to check if you're a regular bus user to check with Arriva and Stagecoach - all the info is there for people to help you plan and prepare for your journeys."
She added: "For those people who have not travelled for five or six months - the services are there but it's a little bit different. We've got to get used to a different way of travelling.
"You need to remember to plan ahead, check timetables, wear a face covering, pay by contactless, be respectful to people, be mindful of staff.
"It's a two-way thing. We are doing our bit, so if passengers and people do theirs then we can get everybody exactly where they need to be as safely as possible."
