Impact of COVID-19 on travel, mobility, and transportation preferences: A mixed method descriptive study

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on travel, mobility, and transportation preferences as well as on the perceived air quality in Toronto during the lockdown period in 2020. An online survey collected results from a diverse sample of Toronto residents (N=2,367). The study results revealed that most residents noticed a temporary improvement in Toronto’s air quality, perceived a relationship between traffic and air quality, and recognized the benefits of using active transportation. While Torontonians reduced their daily travel time/trip frequencies and increased their use of green transportation during the lockdown, they also observed a reduction in the use of public transportation and an increase in the number of single-driver vehicles, taxis, and ride services. Toronto residents viewed air quality improvement as a collective responsibility and recommended the use of green travel, purchasing, consumption, and policy tools, as well as the use of an equity lens in city planning to improve air quality in the city.