
COVID-19 and Sustainable Transport
The COVID-19 pandemic has sent a shock wave through our society, and is permanently changing the world as we know it. Our global economy has been severely disrupted, from supply chains and markets, to workers and trade, laying bare the weaknesses in our overall preparedness for disasters and global crises.
We, as the sustainable, low carbon transport community, must reflect on the significant implications the pandemic is currently having on how we move people and goods, as well as what this will mean for the future of transport. As a community, we must ensure that we use this pivotal moment to advance our vision for more equitable, accessible, and low carbon transport systems, while working together to do our part in combating the spread of COVID-19.
SLOCAT is gathering relevant information, resources, and virtual events on COVID-19 and its impacts on transport to help further this mission. Please always refer to the WHO advice for the public on COVID19 and local information. Please note that the below information and resources do not necessarily represent the views, recommendations, or priorities of SLOCAT, and are meant for informational purposes only. This page will be updated regularly.
To see how sustainable transport events have been affected, please click here. For a list of webinars and online forums on COVID-19 and transport, please click here. For an update from SLOCAT Secretary General Maruxa Cardama on the crisis, please click here
Topic/sub-sector specific information about the effects of COVID-19:
Overall impact of COVID-19 on sustainable transport
Public Transport
Cities and Local Authorities
Walking and Micromobility
Freight
Maritime Transport
Aviation
Road Transport
Rail Transport
Lessons and legacy of COVID-19 on sustainable transport
Other Resources
Key Messages
Avoid-Shift-Improve Instruments for COVID-19
Surveys on COVID-19 and Transport
Overall impact of COVID-19 on sustainable transport:
- The COVID-19 outbreak and implications to sustainable mobility – some observations by TUMI – Sebastian Ibold/GIZ China, Nikola Medimorec/SLOCAT, Armin Wagner/GIZ
- El brote de COVID-19 y las implicaciones para el transporte público: algunas observaciones (Spanish translation of the TUMI article above)
- The Coronavirus Disease COVID-19 and implications for transport and health by the Journal of Transport and Health
- COVID-19 Taskforce – World Conference on Transport Research Society
- Beyond the Lockdown – Planning for Transportation in the Coronavirus Era by Ride Healthy
- International Transport Forum – COVID-19
- Intelligent Transport – How is coronavirus affecting the global transport sector? Live updates
- TUMI – Corona Transport Knowledge Platform and COVID-19 and Transport Twitter Feed
- Women Mobilize Women Corona Twitter Feed
- European Commission – Coronavirus response: Transport measures
- Google COVID-19 Community Mobility Reports and Apple’s Mobility Trends Reports
- ICLEI’s COVID-19 Resources
- Impacto del Coronavirus en América Latina y el Caribe por BID
- A call for collective action of international transport stakeholders to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic (focus on Low Income Countries) by High Volume Transport
- COVID-19 Urban transport response – Opportunities for policymaking in Africa by High Volume Transport
- Useful Resources on COVID-19 and Mobility compiled by POLIS
- COVID-19 transport resources: Keeping cities moving by EcoMobility/ICLEI
- Supporting healthy urban transport and mobility in the context of COVID-19 by WHO
- The Future of Mobility after COVID-19 by Andrey Berdichevskiy, Scott Corwin, Derek Pankratz, Rasheq Zarif/Deloitte
Impact on Public Transport:
- Safer, More Sustainable Transport in a Post-COVID-19 World by TheCityFix, WRI Ross Center
- Transporte público y COVID19 por ONU-Habitat
- Beyond the immediate crisis: The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and public transport strategy by Mobility Institute Berlin (mib)
- An open letter for the European Institutions: UITP and Fellow Associations Advocate for the Continuity of Public Transport by UITP
- Should you take public transit during a pandemic? by Terry Nguyen/VOX
- Is Free Transit Safer? As Ridership Drops, Some Agencies Cut Fares by David Zipper/CityLab
- Estimated Financial Impact of COVID-19 on U.S. Transit Agencies: $26-$38 Billion Annually by TransitCenter
- Luzon-wide transport ban hurts the poor, subverts public health by Sarah Arrojado, Regina Mora, Jedd Ugay/BusinessWorld
- UITP – Management of COVID-19: Guidelines for Public Transport Operators available in 8 languages
- American Public Transportation Association – Public Transit Response to Coronavirus or COVID-19 (Resources, Community Forum, dedicated email hotline)
- Transit – Resources for transit agencies responding to coronavirus
- European Transport Workers’ Federation March Statement – Transport Keeps Us Going
- Even During a Lockdown, Public Transport Can Be a Lifeline by Maimunah Mohd Sharif, ED of UN-Habitat, for Next City
- Public transport closures during the COVID-19 pandemic by Our World in Data
- CITIES FOR PEOPLE MEANS PRIORITISING PUBLIC TRANSPORT by UITP
- El riesgo de dejar morir al transporte público por Moviliblog – BID
- How Toronto can make transit better now and forever after COVID-19 by Ben Spurr/The Star
Impact on Cities and Local Authorities:
- COVID-19: Examining the near- and long-term impacts on cities by Urbanism Next
- COVID-19: Keeping things moving, examples of how local authorities are keeping things moving despite the Covid-19 crisis by POLIS
- COVID-19 Could Affect Cities for Years. Here Are 4 Ways They’re Coping Now by Schuyler Null and Hillary Smith/WRI
- The Guardians of Mobility: Keeping Cities Alive and Moving by UITP
- Compilation of efforts cities are making to expand access to walking, bicycling, and even transit as part of their COVID-19 response
- COVID-19: Transportation Response Center (city governments and transit agencies) by NACTO
- Cities and Coronavirus COVID-19 by C40
- National League of Cities – COVID-19: Local Action Tracker
- Open Letter to Citymakers: 10 Key Implications of the COVID-19 by NewCities
- COVID-19 Campaign – Take action with us in cities and communities by UN-Habitat
Impact on Walking and Micromobility:
- Biking Provides a Critical Lifeline During the Coronavirus Crisis by TheCityFix, WRI Ross Center
- Local Actions to Support Walking and Cycling During Social Distancing – Dataset by pedbikeinfo
- As the Impacts of Coronavirus Grow, Micromobility Fills in the Gaps by ITDP
- Researchers call on government to enable safe walking and cycling during the COVID-19 pandemic
- Bogotá expands bike lanes to curb coronavirus spread by Sarah Wray/SmartCitiesWorld
- Bogotá Company Deploys 400 Free E-Bikes to Help Health Workers Respond to COVID-19 by TheCityFix, WRI Ross Center
- A Surge in Biking to Avoid Crowded Trains in N.Y.C. by Winnie Hu/New York Times
- How Europe’s bicycle industry reacts on coronavirus impact by Bike Europe
- Cycling Towards Resilient Cities: What Urban Mobility in Times of Crisis Can Teach Us by Lucas Snaije/Bicycle Mayors
- Will scooters survive the COVID-19 crisis? by Jason Plautz/Smart Cities Dive
- COVID-19 SHARED MICROMOBILITY STATUS TRACKER by North American Bikeshare Association (NABSA)
- COVID19 Livable Streets Response Strategies crowdsourced
- Local actions affecting walking and cycling during social distancing crowdsourced
- Making Safe Space For Cycling In 10 Days: A Guide To Temporary Bike Lanes From Friedrichshain-Kreuzberg, Berlin by MOBYCON
- COVID-19 Cycling Measures Tracker (Europe) by European Cyclists’ Federation
- Eastern Ukraine: bicycles to deliver aid and hope amidst COVID-19 by Nadiia Shostak and Victoria Andrievska/UNHCR
Impact on Freight:
- Smart Freight Center – Supply Chains in the Time of Corona
- UNECE launches Observatory on Border Crossings Status due to COVID-19
- Coronavirus Impact Seen Prolonging U.S. Freight Slump
- Flow of goods slows as Poland tightens borders
- Take-out pick up zones coming today (City of Seattle, Washington)
- Amazon to Hire 100,000 Warehouse and Delivery Workers Amid Coronavirus Shutdowns
- Impacts of COVID 19 on logistics – Kühne Logistics University
Impact on Maritime Transport:
- ITF and ICS calls on global agencies to keep maritime industry moving in Covid-19 crisis
- UNCTAD Coronavirus: Let’s keep ships moving, ports open and cross-border trade flowing
- COVID-19 And Supply Chain Implications For Ocean Shipping
Impact on Aviation:
- How to Save Airlines the Right Way by William Todts/Transport & Environment
- Coronavirus adds hurdle for air cargo industry saddled with demand slump
- Deeper Revenue Hit from COVID-19, COVID-19 Updated Impact Assessment by the International Air Transport Association
Impact on Road Transport:
Impacts on Rail Transport:
Lessons and legacy of COVID-19 on sustainable transport:
- La recuperación post COVID-19: ¿cómo articular respuestas integradas a las crisis sanitaria, económica y climática en América Latina? por el Programa de la ONU para el Medio Ambiente (PNUMA)
- Post-Pandemic, Chinese Cities Gradually Reopen Transport Networks by ITDP
- COVID19 Legacy: The Death of the Avoidable Car Trip? by Kea Wilson/STREETSBLOG USA
- Is it time to postpone the 2020 Climate Summit? by Felix Dodds
- Yet another crisis/opportunity to redefine mobility. How could we achieve it this time? by Carlos Pardo
- What would happen if the world reacted to climate change like it’s reacting to the coronavirus? by Adele Peters/Fast Company
- COVID-19 outbreak response: first assessment of mobility changes in Italy following lockdown by the COVID19 Mobility Monitoring project
- *COVID-19 vs Climate* Global CO2 levels have temporarily stopped rising, likely due to the industry slowdown as the world battles the new Coronavirus by Andrej Flis/Global Weather
- What coronavirus means for the EU car industry and what we can learn from the 2009 crisis by Julia Poliscanova/Transport & Environment
- How Might Personal Transportation Behaviors Change as a Result of COVID-19, and What Does That Mean for Policy? by Brianne Eby/Eno Center for Transportation
- Is The Coronavirus The Transportation Industry’s Opportunity? by Timothy Papandreou/Forbes
- Recommendations for “New Normal” – Public Transportation and Mobility in Manila
- Pandemic-Resilient Community Planning by Todd Litman, VTPI
- COVID-19: Shifting Gears in Mobility by Susan Shaheen, UC Berkeley
- Can electric cars beat the COVID crunch? by Transport & Environment
- From A Call for Action to an Action Agenda: Response to COVID-19 by the International Transport Community by Holger Dalkmann/High Volume Transport
- Calles para combatir COVID-19. Diseño urbano y movilidad por Ari Fernando Valerdi
- PLATFORM for REDESIGN 2020 – Online Platform on Sustainable and Resilient Recovery from COVID-19 – Ministry of the Environment Japan
Other resources:
Key Messages on COVID-19
- WHO: Five steps to kicking out coronavirus
- UN-Habitat’s Key Messages on COVID-19
- Key messages from the IPPC Secretariat on plant health and Covid-19
- ECF: COVID-19 and Bike Repair Shops and Keep Cycling during the Coronavirus Outbreak
- The recovery from the COVID-19 crisis must lead to a different economy by UN Secretary-General António Guterres
Impacts of COVID-19 on Mobility – Preliminary analysis of regional trends on urban mobility
The SLOCAT Partnership Secretariat has developed a preliminary analysis of how passenger transport in urban environments is impacted from the first weeks of the global COVID-19 pandemic. The paper confirms what can be observed in many cities around the world right now: The most visible impact is the very strong decline in the use of public transport. The percentage change of trips to public transport stations is the highest. For this specific impact and many others, the strongest impact can be recognised in Latin America and the Caribbean and in high-income countries.
This preliminary analysis identifies that a few countries in Asia already see a tendency towards recovery of mobility use. However, only time will show how mobility and transport modes are going to evolve in the coming weeks and whether any of the so-far temporary trends will be carried forward. The lessons learned out of this crisis must be harnessed to accelerate and consolidate sustainable, low carbon transport and mobility patterns embedded in a balanced implementation of the Avoid-Shift-Improve framework.
Webinars + Online Forums
- 14 December: Managing the unexpected: SUMPS and new mobility services during COVID-19 by HARMONY
- 20 August: ¿Cómo se mueven las mujeres latinoamericanas durante la pandemia? por TUMI, Mujeres en Movimiento, Transport Gender Lab
- 12 August: The impact of Covid-19 on freight and logistics by IRG and SATC
- 05 August: Resiliencia y transporte: ¿Qué tan arriesgado es usar el transporte público desde una perspectiva epidemiológica? por GIZ, NUMO, TUMI, WRI, Mobilise Your City, EUROCLIMA+
- 07-30 July (series of webinars): Decarbonsing Transport in an Unprecedented Global Crisis: A Virtual Conference (focus on freight in Argentina) by ITF, Wuppertal, el Ministerio de Transporte de Argentina, LEDS-LAC, Sustentar, supported by BMU
- 23 July: Resilience & Transportation: Lessons from China’s & Bangladesh’s Responses to COVID-19 by NUMO
- 15 July: Intervenciones de emergencia para la movilidad de América Latina por CEDEUS Chile
- 09 July: Technical and financial needs of developping countries- Supporting a sustainable recovery in the Global South by LEDS GP
- 02 July: Understanding the ideas behind stimulus proposals – Designing sustainable post-pandemic recovery programs in developing countries by LEDS GP
- 01 July: Sustainable Transport and COVID-19: Response and Recovery Day 1 by UNDESA
- 26 June: Progress on traffic-free city centres: Oslo, London & Lagos by Car Free Day
- 25 June: Understanding Challenges and opportunies – SDG-proofing the energy and transport components of stimulus packages in developing countries by LEDS GP
- 24 June: Sustainable Transport and COVID-19: Response and Recovery Day 1 by UNDESA
- 24 June: Effective communication and outreach for sustainable mobility by ITDP India
- 24 June: Descarbonizando el Transporte en una Economía Emergente en tiempos de COVID-19: Ideas iniciales del caso argentino por LEDS-LAC
- 18 June: Financial and other supporting measures for the Sustainability of Bus Road Transport in India by BusWorld
- 17 June: Resilience and transportation: International best practices of funding instruments to support public transit after Covid-19 by TUMI
- 11 June: Repensar la Transformación Urbana: Transporte y Movilidad by UIC-LAC
- 10-24 June: Webinar Series “Adapting City’s Mobility System after Covid-19” by BRT+
- 10 June: The Impact of Covid – 19 on Sustainable Transport and Mobility: Lessons Learnt so Far by the Southern African Transport Conference (SATC) and the International Road Federation (IRF)
- 3 June: Rethinking Mobility: Cycling for a Safe COVID-19 Recovery and Beyond by ECF
- 28 May: Chinese Cities Today: Modal Shifts & Private Sector Responses by ITDP
- 28 May: Outlook on the bus and coach industry post-corona by Busworld
- 27 May: El transporte público y la movilidad urbana en tiempos de COVID-19: Desafíos y oportunidades para la movilidad baja en emisiones por LEDS-LAC y Sustentar
- 18 May: The key role of Public Transport to build back better: Climate by UITP
- 8 May: Resilience and transportation: lessons from India while responding to COVID-19 by TUMI
- 7 May: Moving From Response to the New Normal: Public Transport and COVID-19 by UITP
- 6 May: COVID 19 y electromovilidad, ¿qué nos depara el futuro? por ONU Medio Ambiente – MOVE
- 30 April: COVID-19: Live rail industry briefing with François Davenne and Marc Guigon by UIC
- 30 April: New mobility responses to the COVID-19 lockdown by WRI India
- 29-30 April: Las ciudades ante el COVID-19/Cities and COVID-19 by Plataforma de Conocimiento para la Transformación Urbana
- 29 April: How to Restart Bus Operations after a Lockdown by BusWorld
- 29 April: Os impactos atuais e futuros da COVID-19 na mobilidade urbana das cidades brasileiras por Fundação Getulio Vargas (FGV)
- 28 April: COVID19: El presente y futuro de la movilidad urbana por Mujeres en Movimiento, Área 9, y otras
- 28 April: Resilient Road Infrastructure: How to plan, build and manage for current and future challenges by IRF
- 27 April: What COVID-19 is teaching us about Sustainable Mobility: Lessons for the Future by Global Alliance of NGOs for Road Safety
- 27 April: Trade Facilitation and Expedited Shipments. Lessons learned from the COVID-19 crisis by UNCTAD/DTL, ITC, UN-ECE
- 24 April: Build Back Better: Public Transport and COVID-19 Recovery by WRI Ross Center
- 23 April: How can coach operators generate income and reduce costs during COVID-19? by BusWorld
- 22 April: ¿CÓMO SERÁ EL DÍA DESPUÉS Y CÓMO PREPARARNOS DESDE EL SECTOR DEL TRANSPORTE PÚBLICO? by UITP
- 22 April: Transportation in the Coronavirus Era by Ride Healthy
- 21 April: Coronavirus and Its Impact on the SDGs by IISD
- Ongoing: #BeyondtheOutbreak: Live Learning – Mobility: Public transport and the COVID-19 pandemic by UCLG
- 15 April: Análisis y prospectiva de la Movilidad, Tránsito y Transporte por la Corporación Líderes Para Gobernar y la Asociación de Profesionales de Gestión de Riesgos
- 15 April: Resilience & Transportation: Lessons from Latin America’s Response to COVID-19 Webinar by NUMO, TUMI, GIZ, MobiliseYourCity, EUROCLIMA+ Recording Here, Presentations Here
- 14 April: Management of public transport to contain COVID–19, lessons from Nanjing, Madrid and Hamburg by SOLUTIONSplus
- 9 April: How can governments contribute to the survival of bus and coach operators during and after the COVID-19 crisis? by Busworld
- 3 April: COVID-19: Lessons learnt and outlooks for sustainable, low carbon transport by SLOCAT
- 2 April: Tactical Urbanism as COVID-19 Response by TUMI and NUMO
- 2 April: Acciones para la movilidad en bicicleta ante el COVID-19 by MobiliseYourCity and EUROCLIMA+
- 26 March: Primer Foro Global Ciudades y Coronovirus: Una Ecuación Compleja by FLACSO. Facebook Live. Youtube Live
- 25 March: Estrategias para la calidad en el servicio de transporte público eléctrico. ¿Cómo lo hizo la ciudad de Shenzhen? by move -movilidad eléctrica en latinoamérica
- 25 March: Practical Experiences from P.R. China and the Republic of Korea with COVID-19 by UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)
- 24 March: Acciones en el sector transporte ante del COVID19 by LEDS LAC/ Euroclima+ / SLOCAT / Sustentar / Libelula / FLACMA / GIZ / TUMI / ITF
- 24 March: How to manage COVID19 in public transport by UITP
- 23 March: Transportation & COVID-19 – Practices from other disease outbreaks by TRB
- 20 March: Combating COVID-19. The Shenzhen Bus Group’s experience by TUMI

Avoid-Shift-Improve Instruments for COVID-19
TUMI developed in coordination with SLOCAT and the wider transport community an application of the Avoid-Shift-Improve framework. Instruments that can support mobility during COVID19 have been identified and structured by Avoid (avoiding any non-essential travel), Shift (shifting to most essential traffic) and Improve (improving essential transport modes). The suitability of each instrument depends on the degree of the COVID19 outbreak in each respective region. All measures should be aligned to general health recommendations and rules of conduct.
Surveys on COVID-19
Freight Transport Association (FTA) Coronavirus Logistics Impact Survey
Take the survey here.
The survey results will be used to provide timely feedback and information to FTA members on the impacts and risk mitigation measures as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. The results will also be used to inform FTA’s briefings to government and officials, including at the multiple meetings the Chief Executive is having with the Secretary of State for Business, Environment and Industry Strategy (BEIS).
NUMO Survey on Telework Policies
NUMO, the New Urban Mobility Alliance, wants to understand how the COVID19 changes travel and work both temporarily and in the long run. Please fill out this brief survey and help us and NUMO understand the impact on your travel behavior and the rapid growth of teleworking options.
Survey conducted by Technische Universität Dresden, Germany, Chair for Traffic and Transportation Psychology:
What influence does the coronavirus have on your mobility behaviour? The novel virus SARS-CoV-2 has developed unexpectedly and is already influencing daily life to a great extent. We are interested: Have you changed your daily mobility behaviour for this reason? What strategies do you use to get from A to B in a healthy and safe way? Take part in a survey here.