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The impact of COVID-19 on mobility choices in Switzerland

Author

Listed:
  • Hintermann, Beat

    (University of Basel)

  • Schoeman, Beaumont

    (University of Basel)

  • Molloy, Joseph
  • Schatzmann, Thomas
  • Tchervenkov, Christopher
  • Axhausen, Kay W.

Abstract

We study the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic and the associated government measures on individual mobility choices in Switzerland. Our data is based on over 1,600 people for which we observe all trips during eight weeks before the pandemic and until May 2021. We find an overall reduction of travel distances by 60 percent, followed by a gradual recovery during the subsequent re-opening of the economy. Whereas driving distances have almost completely recovered, public transport remains under-used. The introduction of a requirement to wear a mask in public transport had no measurable impact on ridership. The individual travel response to the pandemic varies along socio-economic dimensions such as education and household size, with mobility tool ownership, and with personal values and lifestyles. We find no evidence for a significant substitution of leisure travel to compensate for the reduction in work-related travel.

Suggested Citation

  • Hintermann, Beat & Schoeman, Beaumont & Molloy, Joseph & Schatzmann, Thomas & Tchervenkov, Christopher & Axhausen, Kay W., 2021. "The impact of COVID-19 on mobility choices in Switzerland," Working papers 2021/10, Faculty of Business and Economics - University of Basel.
    • Handle: RePEc:bsl:wpaper:2021/10
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    1. Giovanni Bonaccorsi & Francesco Pierri & Matteo Cinelli & Andrea Flori & Alessandro Galeazzi & Francesco Porcelli & Ana Lucia Schmidt & Carlo Michele Valensise & Antonio Scala & Walter Quattrociocchi , 2020. "Economic and social consequences of human mobility restrictions under COVID-19," Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, vol. 117(27), pages 15530-15535, July.
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    3. Matthew J. Beck & David A. Hensher, 2021. "What might the changing incidence of Working from Home (WFH) tell us about future transport and land use agendas," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 41(3), pages 257-261, May.
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    5. Beck, Matthew J. & Hensher, David A. & Wei, Edward, 2020. "Slowly coming out of COVID-19 restrictions in Australia: Implications for working from home and commuting trips by car and public transport," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 88(C).
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    Cited by:

    1. Lukas Hartwig & Reinhard Hössinger & Yusak Octavius Susilo & Astrid Gühnemann, 2022. "The Impacts of a COVID-19 Related Lockdown (and Reopening Phases) on Time Use and Mobility for Activities in Austria—Results from a Multi-Wave Combined Survey," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-24, June.

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    COVID-19; transport; mobility; GPS tracking; causal forest;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • H12 - Public Economics - - Structure and Scope of Government - - - Crisis Management
    • H40 - Public Economics - - Publicly Provided Goods - - - General
    • I18 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Health - - - Government Policy; Regulation; Public Health
    • R41 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Transportation: Demand, Supply, and Congestion; Travel Time; Safety and Accidents; Transportation Noise
    • R48 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Transportation Economics - - - Government Pricing and Policy

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