How has COVID-19 changed private car use in European urban areas? An analysis of the effect of socio-economic characteristics and mobility habits

Vega-Gonzalo, María; Gómez, Juan; Christidis, Panayotis

doi:10.1016/j.tra.2023.103679

Cited by 15 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 68 publications

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“…As the pandemic progressed, factors such as population density, mobility within and between regions, and social interactions likely facilitated the virus’s spread to urban and rural neighboring districts [ 15 ]. The observed patterns of infection in districts bordering Hungary, Czech Republic, and Poland could be influenced by cross-border travel and interactions, highlighting the importance of regional dynamics in the virus transmission [ 16 ]. Additionally, varying levels of adherence to preventive measures, such as closing preschools, primary and secondary schools, mask-wearing, social distancing, and testing availability, could have impacted infection rates across different areas and age groups.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Children and Adolescents with COVID-19 Infections in Slovakia during March 2020 to July 2022

Gharaibeh,

Bataineh

et al. 2024

Medicina

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Background and Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant global impact, necessitating a comprehensive understanding of its spatiotemporal patterns. The objective of this study is to explore the spatial and temporal patterns of COVID-19 infections among five age groups (<1, 1–4, 5–9, 10–14, and 15–19 years) in 72 districts of Slovakia on a quarterly basis from March 2020 to July 2022. Material and Methods: During the study period, a total of 393,429 confirmed PCR cases of COVID-19 or positive antigen tests were recorded across all studied age groups. The analysis examined the spatiotemporal spread of COVID infections per quarter, from September 2021 to May 2022. Additionally, data on hospitalizations, intensive care unit (ICU) admissions, pulmonary ventilation (PV), and death cases were analyzed. Results: The highest number of COVID-19 infections occurred between September 2021 and May 2022, particularly in the 10–14-year-old group (68,695 cases), followed by the 15–19-year-old group (62,232 cases), while the lowest incidence was observed in the <1-year-old group (1235 cases). Out of the total confirmed PCR cases, 18,886 individuals required hospitalization, 456 needed ICU admission, 402 received pulmonary ventilation, and only 16 died. The analysis of total daily confirmed PCR cases for all regions showed two major peaks on 12 December 2021 (6114 cases) and 1 February 2022 (3889 cases). Spatial mapping revealed that during December 2021 to February 2022, the highest number of infections in all age groups were concentrated mainly in Bratislava. Moreover, temporal trends of infections within each age group, considering monthly and yearly variations, exhibited distinct spatial patterns, indicating localized outbreaks in specific regions. Conclusions: The spatial and temporal patterns of COVID-19 infections among different age groups in Slovakia showed a higher number of infections in the 10–14-year-old age group, mainly occurring in urban districts. The temporal pattern of the spread of the virus to neighboring urban and rural districts reflected the movement of infected individuals. Hospitalizations, ICU and PV admissions, and deaths were relatively low. The study highlights the need for more proactive measures to contain outbreaks promptly and ensure the resilience of healthcare systems against future pandemics.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Exploring the Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Children and Adolescents with COVID-19 Infections in Slovakia during March 2020 to July 2022

Gharaibeh,

Bataineh

et al. 2024

Medicina

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“…Thus, from a socioeconomic perspective, studies have shown that the decline in mobility during the harshest phase of the COVID-19 lock-down was greater in areas with higher income levels [32], linked to a greater ease for telecommuting [33] despite the greater availability of private vehicles [34]. In fact, the biggest shift from UPT to private vehicles has been associated with low-income areas [35], except in those with the highest percentages of captive travelers, i.e., those who do not have alternative means of transportation. This was the case in some regions of India, where no decrease in the use of public transportation was observed during the pandemic [36].…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Recovering Sustainable Mobility after COVID-19: The Case of Almeria (Spain)

Garrido-Jiménez,

Rodríguez-Rojas,

Vallecillos-Siles

2024

Applied Sciences

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The COVID-19 pandemic brought about a significant change in mobility habits within cities, leading to a significant decrease in the use of collective urban transport in many countries that has been only partially and unevenly reversed. In this context, many cities are analyzing what factors are hindering this recovery process to design actions to promote sustainable mobility. Thus, this study, carried out in the city of Almeria (Spain), tried to analyze whether the main operating variables of the municipal bus network (frequency, average vehicle occupancy, the length of the lines, urban or suburban character, circularity, nodality, and intermodality) have an impact on the annual number of users recovered in 2022 compared to 2019. Although a strong statistical correlation between variables was not observed, the overall results show that the lines that have recovered the most users on average are suburban lines, as well as the nodal lines that serve key centroids such as the university, highlighting that the dependence of users on public transport might be the most important determinant in the recovery process, more than other variables representative of the service’s intrinsic quality such as frequency or average vehicle occupancy. This result shows the importance of facilitating public transport to those who lack alternatives, as well as the convenience of restrictions on less sustainable transportation alternatives for the prompt recovery of the space lost by urban public transportation.

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“…Specifically, the COVID-19 pandemic introduced unique challenges and policy measures that significantly altered transportation dynamics. A study that focused on the pandemic's impact in European urban areas by Vega-Gonzalo et al [126] noted an increased dependence on cars. This increase was particularly evident among demographics that traditionally relied less on private vehicles.…”

Section: Government Policiesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Drivers of Driving: A Review

Feyzollahi,

Pineau,

Rafizadeh

2024

Sustainability

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As car ownership and usage expand globally, understanding the factors that influence the propensity to drive is crucial for promoting sustainable transportation. This literature review examined the factors influencing driving decisions through a systematic search of databases, rigorous screening of over 1000 articles, and analysis of 142 studies. The findings reveal that attributes of the built environment (e.g., density, diversity, accessibility), economic factors (e.g., income, costs of car ownership, policies), and psychological aspects (e.g., attitudes, social norms, perceptions) have significant impacts on driving behaviors. By employing an integrative methodology involving targeted searches, keyword analysis, and detailed evaluation, this review offers insights into the multifactorial nature of driving decisions. The synthesis of studies across multiple domains emphasized the need for a holistic approach to understanding and addressing the factors influencing the propensity to drive, laying a foundation for informed transportation policy and practice.

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How has COVID-19 changed private car use in European urban areas? An analysis of the effect of socio-economic characteristics and mobility habits

Cited by 15 publications

References 68 publications

Exploring the Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Children and Adolescents with COVID-19 Infections in Slovakia during March 2020 to July 2022

Exploring the Spatial and Temporal Patterns of Children and Adolescents with COVID-19 Infections in Slovakia during March 2020 to July 2022

Recovering Sustainable Mobility after COVID-19: The Case of Almeria (Spain)

Drivers of Driving: A Review

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