Study: How does Corona change our mobility in the long term?

What is the aim of the study?

The survey on mobility behaviour during the Corona pandemic was launched on 20.03.2020. The aim is to find out whether and how the sudden and strong interventions in habitual mobility behaviour during the corona pandemic have a current and lasting effect. The choice of transport mode is not a decision that is made anew every day, but depends heavily on habits. In change situations (e.g. change of job, relocation, addition to the family) such decisions are reconsidered. The corona eruption offers the opportunity for transport research to investigate such so-called transition processes extensively, since currently almost everyone is affected by more or less drastic cuts. The effect of this extreme transition situation on entire groups can thus be investigated. Among other things, questions can be answered about how people in this transition situation shape their mobility and which means of transport are particularly in demand during the crisis.

Who participated so far?

So far, the data sets of 5,010 participants* from Germany have been analysed. About half of the respondents are female (49%). With 42%, the group of 30 to 50-year-olds has the largest share among the respondents, followed by the group of 18 to 30-year-olds (30%) and the 50 to 65-year-olds with 23%. The lowest participation (1%) is recorded in the group of 14 to 18 year-olds, followed by the group of 65+ year-olds with just under 4%.

Figure 1 - Gender distribution by age group

What situation is described?                

At the time of the survey, almost all respondents (99.3%) had one or more of the following limitations:

01. School/university closures,
02. Closure of non-essential businesses,
03. Reduction of social contacts (social distancing),
04. voluntary self-isolation,
05. Isolation/quarantine,
06. mandatory curfew,
07. Prohibition of meetings of several persons (e.g. more than 5 persons).

In this context, 96% of the respondents were affected by two or more measures. Almost all respondents were affected by the restriction of social contacts (95%). In the majority of cases (54%) the restrictions had already existed for one to three weeks at the time of the survey. No current restrictions were reported by only 0.7% of respondents.

How did the mobility behaviour change?

More than half (59%) of the respondents report that their transport use has changed since the outbreak of the corona virus. In terms of individual means of transport, the biggest effects are seen in local and long-distance public transport as well as in cycling and walking. While respondents indicate that they use local and long-distance transport slightly or significantly less, the opposite picture emerges for cycling and walking. Currently, more people are walking or cycling. The proportion of people who travel a little or significantly less by car is roughly equal to those who currently travel a little or significantly more by car.

Figure 2 - Use of different means of transport since the outbreak of coronavirus

It should be noted that almost all respondents (98%) report the omission of at least one otherwise usual route. Slightly more than two thirds report the loss of ways by teleworking or home office as well as the cancellation of appointments. Half of those surveyed also reported that video and telephone conferences made trips unnecessary. The most pronounced loss of travel for recreational purposes (excursions, visits, etc.) was reported by the overwhelming majority (87%).

Looking at various means of transport in detail, it is clear that public transport has lost the most users. Here, the number of people changing vehicles is highest in comparison with cars, bicycles or walking. The least amount of changeovers occurred when walking and cycling. Respondents who used the car for their most frequent commuting purpose before the outbreak of the corona virus and who currently use another mode of transport have switched to the bicycle or walk as a priority. Users of public transport have also switched to active mobility, but are also increasingly using the car.

Figure 3 - Distribution of switch to other meas of transport; in percent; upper left: from Car, upper right.: from public transport, bottom left: from walking, bottom right: from Bicycle

When asked about the reasons for using a different means of transport since the outbreak of the corona virus, former public transport users give an average of 1.85 (SD = 0.91) reasons. The most frequently chosen motive is to reduce the risk of infection for myself. This statement was agreed by 87% of the public transport users interviewed who switched to another mode of transport. Also in order to reduce the risk of infection for others, the use of public transport is avoided, 65 % agreed with this statement.

The majority of the public transport users surveyed who are currently using a different mode of transport say that they would like to use bus and train again after the crisis. Around 16 percent are still undecided. Just under 23 percent rather or fully agree with the statement to avoid public transport for a while after the end of the corona crisis.

Figure 4 - Agreement and disagreement of former public transport users on the statement "After the Corona crisis I will avoid public transport for a while." in percent.

What are the next steps?

In order to answer questions such as: "Which means of transport are used more often/less often even after the end of the corona crisis?" and "Which persons have retained their changes or have returned to their usual means of transport?", a follow-up survey will be started after the end of the corona crisis.

Contact information: Dr. rer. pol. Angela Francke

Authors: Juliane Anke Lisa-Marie Schaefer Angela Francke

Stand: 03.05.2020