COVID-19 mobility insights

Executive Summary 44%of respondents thinkthat their mobility willbe reduced thanks toworking remotely 70%of respondents were ableto work remotely 40%of respondents thinkthey will maintain theirpre-COVID-19 mobilityhabits 70%of respondentswhoexpect tochangemodeof transportcitedhealthas thereason very different European cities, with avariety of transport options, the currentglobal pandemic has created a unity ofdisruption across them all. Arup surveyedresidents across the three urban locationsto determine sentiment – not only aboutworking from home, but also regardinghow people intend to travel.Responses indicated that more people are willing to adoptwalking and cycling as commuting options. However, the fear our daily, unbreakable routines. As such,there was an inevitability of growth andcongestion. Who knew that our behaviourcould be modified so rapidly and to suchan extent?With lockdowns implemented across the globe, people areand foresee the impact of users’ behavioural changes on the mostsustainable modes: public transport, walking and cycling, andnew mobility solutions, and how authorities and operators havequickly reacted to this unprecedented situation. As extraordinaryproblems require extraordinary solutions, this situation haspushed forward the implementation of valuable initiativesaroundthe world. While some of them may quickly vanish withthe pandemic, others may remain and define our new normal.These are the choices of the guardians of public space, citiesandgovernments, and of citizens who would rail against the place higher value on their current options and habits. However,when cities reopen and schools, crèches, restaurants, cafés andworkplaces pull people towards them, there will be significantchallenges to the new habits developed during lockdown.Increased traffic levels may cause stress for new cyclists andstretch the capacity of footpaths. The need to accompany orassist children on journeys will generate movement. Publictransport operators are already trying to increase the frequencyof public transport services to allow for less crowding. Willthose efforts reduce the strongly expressed reluctance to usepublic transport? What safe options are available, if not the car,for those with longer commutes? These and other questions willinevitably be challenges faced across Europe until an effectivevaccination is introduced.The challenges presented by COVID-19 may also provide uswith opportunities. How can we encourage more people to workdiscovering new and more convenient ways to shop online,students are finding new ways of learning from home,companies are realising the cost savings and high productivity oftheir staff working remotely and the fear of infection is makingpeople rediscover the joy of living locally.Inevitably, these new habit(at)s are having a huge impact onour existing transport systems, already under pressure but at congestion that they created through other choices.This report provides insights into the opportunities that peopleand their representatives can collectively undertake to create anew set of habits – habits in behaviour and habits in decision the same time oversized to meet the demand during two shortmaking. of infection will reduce public transport use and increase cardemand as respondents displayed a preference for physicaldistancing. This re-balancing of demand by mode poses asignificant challenge to transport planning, as all three citieshave limited spatial capacity to facilitate cycling and walkingwith safe spacing, while motorists are demanding more networkspace.As a potential way to offset this concern, it is worth noting thatnearly half of those surveyed expected to travel less due to theability and willingness to work from home. from home, or closer to home, without their physical and mentalhealth suffering? How can the transport resources and systemsthat have been built over decades be actively modified toincorporate the best aspects of changes to mobility and workingthat the survey hints are possible?periods of time: the peaks. Similarly, we never thought ourroutines could be changed – could these new trends completelyreshape and optimise future urban mobility? Have these thepotential to flatten the (peak) demand curve and drive us towardsa more sustainable new normal? With every threat to ourcommunity, there is anopportunity to be grasped.Understanding which mobility behaviours are gaining ground, which work behaviours are changing and what actions are happening inour transport systems allows us to identify how to achieve long-termbenefits for our society.COVID-19 has temporarily disrupted systems and has introduced orreacquainted people to walking, cycling and the potential to work It has also created a sense of apprehension and a wish to cocoon in acar, if possible, and avoid public transport crowding. Our research identifies potential solutions to invest in retaining post-pandemic, options to be avoided and the behaviour changes that shoul