How did micro-mobility change in response to COVID-19 pandemic? A case study based on spatial-temporal-semantic...

Area of Science:

• Urban Planning
• Transportation Science
• Public Health

Background:

• COVID-19 lockdowns globally impacted urban travel behavior.
• Micro-mobility, an emerging transport mode, faced significant changes.
• Limited research exists on micro-mobility trip patterns during the pandemic.

Purpose of the Study:

• Analyze micro-mobility usage changes before and during COVID-19 lockdowns.
• Investigate spatial, temporal, and semantic shifts in micro-mobility.
• Provide insights for post-pandemic urban mobility planning.

Main Methods:

• Utilized high-resolution micro-mobility trip data from Zurich, Switzerland.
• Conducted spatial, temporal, and semantic analyses of docked and dockless e-bikes.
• Constructed origin-destination networks to analyze trip flows.

Main Results:

• Micro-mobility trips decreased substantially during the lockdown, with reduced workday peak hours.
• Origin-destination pairs remained consistent, but trip volumes declined.
• Trip purposes shifted, with increased Home, Park, and Grocery activities, and decreased Leisure and Shopping.

Conclusions:

• COVID-19 lockdowns reshaped urban micro-mobility patterns in Zurich.
• Policy adjustments are needed to support sustainable micro-mobility post-pandemic.
• Understanding trip purpose shifts is crucial for future urban transport strategies.