The uneven impacts of avoiding public transit on riders’ access to healthcare during COVID-19

BACKGROUND: During the COVID-19 pandemic, many urban residents stopped riding public transit despite their reliance on it to reach essential services like healthcare. Few studies have examined the implications of public transit reliance on riders’ ability to reach healthcare when transit is disrupted. To understand how shocks to transportation systems impact healthcare access, this study measures the impact of avoiding public transit on the ability of riders to access healthcare and pharmacy services during lockdowns. METHODS: We deployed a cross-sectional survey of residents of Toronto and Vancouver in May 2020 through Facebook advertisements and community list-serves. Eligibility criteria included riding transit at least weekly prior to the pandemic and subsequent cessation of transit use during the pandemic. We applied multivariable modified Poisson models to identify socio-demographic, transportation, health-related, and neighborhood predictors of experiencing increased difficulty accessing healthcare and getting prescriptions while avoiding public transit. We also predicted which respondents reported deferring medical care until they felt comfortable riding transit again. RESULTS: A total of 4367 former transit riders were included (64.2% female, 56.1% Toronto residents). Several factors were associated with deferring medical care including: being non-White (Toronto, APR, 1.14; 95% CI, 1.00-1.29; Vancouver, APR, 1.52; 95% CI, 1.26-1.84), having a physical disability (Toronto, APR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.00-1.45; Vancouver, APR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.08-1.87), having no vehicle access (Toronto, APR, 1.74; 95% CI, 1.51-2.00; Vancouver, APR, 2.74; 95% CI, 2.20-3.42), and having low income (Toronto, APR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.44-2.17; Vancouver, APR, 1.51; 95% CI, 1.06-2.14). DISCUSSION: During COVID-19 in two major Canadian cities, former transit riders from marginalized groups were more likely to defer medical care than other former riders. COVID-19 related transit disruptions may have imposed a disproportionate burden on the health access of marginalized individuals. Policymakers should consider prioritizing healthcare access for vulnerable residents during crises.