Implications of COVID-19 on mobility behaviors in Berlin

Research aims/Analysis:

• Investigating COVID-19-induced mobility-behavioral transformations by analyzing travel patterns of Berlin residents during a 20-month pandemic period and comparing them to the pre-pandemic situation.
• Comparing behavioral responses to three pandemic waves (spring 2020, winter 2020/21, spring 2021).
• Detecting possible long-term effects that may constitute a “new normal” of an entirely altered urban mobility landscape.

Time reference:

• 01/2019 – 09/2021

Method:

• Quantitative analysis of almost 800,000 recorded trips in Berlin. Unveiling relative behavioral changes by a comparison of a 20-month pandemic period with a pre-pandemic reference period.

Key results:

• Public transport trip frequencies relatively decreased by ~50%
• Traveled distances in public transport decreased by ~43%
• The bicycle (rather than the car) is the central modal beneficiary
• Bicycle-related trip frequencies experienced a relative long-term increase of ~53%, travel distances increased by ~117%
• Each pandemic wave created unique response patterns, which show a gradual softening of individuals’ mobility related self-restrictions

Figures:

Reference/Citation

Kellermann, R., Sivizaca Conde, D., Rößler, D., Kliewer, N., Dienel, H.-L., 2022. Mobility in pandemic times: Exploring changes and long-term effects of COVID-19 on urban mobility behavior. Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives 100668. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trip.2022.100668

Datasets used for this analysis: