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:
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.
15 April: Resilience & Transportation: Lessons from Latin America’s Response to COVID-19 Webinar by NUMO, TUMI, GIZ, MobiliseYourCity, EUROCLIMA+ Recording Here, Presentations Here
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
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.
