Suggested Citation:
Barbour, Elisa, Rosanely Alvarez-Coria, Hayden Andersen, Reyhane Hosseinzade, Katherine Turner, Susan L. Handy (2024)

Barriers to Reducing the Carbon Footprint of Transportation Part 3: The Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Travel Patterns

. Institute of Transportation Studies, University of California, Davis, Research Report UCD-ITS-RR-23-79

Abstract:

Vehicle travel, measured as vehicle-miles traveled (VMT), dropped precipitously in California following “stay-in-place” orders issued by the state and counties as a response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Although VMT rebounded relatively quickly, the state has an opportunity to leverage other changes in household travel behavior so as to achieve its VMT reduction goals while enhancing transportation equity. This report reviews the available evidence on changes in household travel behavior resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic and provides an overview of potential state, regional, and local-level policies that could help to preserve changes that help to reduce VMT and reverse those that tend to increase VMT. The review focuses on alternatives to driving, specifically telecommuting, public transit, ride-hailing, e-shopping, and active travel and micro-mobility.