United States Department of Transportation
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Impacts of COVID-19 Induced Active Transportation Demand on the Built Environment and Public Health
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2024-05-01
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[PDF-1.32 MB]
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Corporate Contributors:Center for Advancing Research in Transportation Emissions, Energy, and Health (CARTEEH) Tier-1 University Transportation Center (UTC) ; United States. Department of Transportation. University Transportation Centers (UTC) Program ; United States. Department of Transportation. Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology
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Edition:Final Report 69A3551747128
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Abstract:COVID-19 had a significant impact on people’s mobility. According to observational studies, the number of people bicycling and walking increased considerably during the social distancing orders. Various reasons may have contributed to this surge in bicycling and walking activities during the lockdown period, such as limited opportunities for physical and social activities due to COVID-19 and increased concerns about staying healthy. These changes in the demand had subsequently led to changes in built environment resulting in temporary deign and countermeasures to accommodate active transport users. However, pedestrians and bicyclists sharing streets with motorized traffic are often exposed to other traffic risks such as crashes and air pollution. Traffic risks involving non-motorized road users are serious threats that can outweigh the many health benefits in certain locations and populations. The objective of this study was to assess the secondary health outcomes of COVID-19 pandemic on active transport users through various health pathways such as physical activity, air quality, traffic crash and mental health and wellbeing. We conducted literature review and sentiment analysis to explore the secondary health effects of the pandemic on active transport users. The results of this project indicate that the pandemic had negative effects on active transport related sentiments (mainly due to other risks from built environment and traffic), however the changes in natural and built environment such as improved air quality and temporary planning and design measures may have had positive impacts on active transport users’ health. Despite these improvements the traffic crashes and fatalities remained stable potentially due to aggressive driving behaviors and reduced congestion.
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