Early in the pandemic, bike sales soared and vehicle miles traveled plummeted. As people have been driving more, more people have also been infected with the novel coronavirus.
Andy Olin provides a really thorough overview of the mobility trends in the United States since the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic in March.
The narrative is summarized thusly:
Traffic levels fell dramatically throughout the Houston metro area as people were ordered to stay at home and businesses were closed to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 — and it worked. But, as the economy was reopened and people returned to work, restaurants, bars, beaches and more, traffic levels and infection rates increased.
The article includes a mountain of data on bike sales and use, traffic and vehicle miles traveled, and air quality, providing specific examples from around the country and the nation as a whole, before drilling down on air quality data in the Houston area. Much of the information in the article has been reported before in separate media outlets and news coverage, but here we have all the relevant data in one place, clearly put in context and analyzed for potential implications.
But the article also includes a bombshell revelation that could potentially upend the ongoing narrative about density and transit being the most conductive modes for transmission of the coronavirus: when people drive more, more people are infected with the coronavirus.
FULL STORY: Traffic dropped 66%, but it came back and the coronavirus followed
How COVID-19 Impacted Mobility in California
Analysis of cell phone location tracking data shows changes in how Californians have moved around since the pandemic.
Ride-Hailing Companies Have Yet to Recover
While public transit tends to make the most headlines for coronavirus-damaged ridership numbers, ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft aren't exactly raking in new customers.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions Reduced 17% Worldwide in April, Study Says
A recently published study predicts a 4 to 7 percent decline in greenhouse gas emissions for 2020 compared to 2019.
What ‘The Brutalist’ Teaches Us About Modern Cities
How architecture and urban landscapes reflect the trauma and dysfunction of the post-war experience.
‘Complete Streets’ Webpage Deleted in Federal Purge
Basic resources and information on building bike lanes and sidewalks, formerly housed on the government’s Complete Streets website, are now gone.
The VW Bus is Back — Now as an Electric Minivan
Volkswagen’s ID. Buzz reimagines its iconic Bus as a fully electric minivan, blending retro design with modern technology, a 231-mile range, and practical versatility to offer a stylish yet functional EV for the future.
Healing Through Parks: Altadena’s Path to Recovery After the Eaton Fire
In the wake of the Eaton Fire, Altadena is uniting to restore Loma Alta Park, creating a renewed space for recreation, community gathering, and resilience.
San Diego to Rescind Multi-Unit ADU Rule
The city wants to close a loophole that allowed developers to build apartment buildings on single-family lots as ADUs.
Electric Vehicles for All? Study Finds Disparities in Access and Incentives
A new UCLA study finds that while California has made progress in electric vehicle adoption, disadvantaged communities remain underserved in EV incentives, ownership, and charging access, requiring targeted policy changes to advance equity.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
City of Albany
UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Chaddick Institute at DePaul University
City of Piedmont, CA
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research