Modal Shift Towards Active Transport During the Covid-19 Restrictions: Can We Maintain This Trend?

The alignment of Greek cities with EU goals considering urban mobility and respective quality of life necessitates the effective integration of active transport modes in the design of the transportation system, an integration which, to this date, has not been successful in Greece. During the Covid-19 pandemic a substantial increase in active transport was observed internationally, but also in Greek cities. The present study explores the shift towards active transport both as a utilitarian and a recreational activity in Greece during the pandemic, while it elaborates on the potential of maintaining this trend. A revealed preference questionnaire survey was designed and distributed on-line, to identify citizens' trip characteristics, prior and during the lockdown periods, while other relevant data, including traveller perceptions, sociodemographic characteristics and Covid-19 related data, was also collected. The shift towards active transport was captured through targeted indicators, while discrete choice models were designed to reveal the factors affecting this shift. Results combined with the knowledge of the shortcomings and opportunities relevant to the transportation system, as shaped by user, trip and infrastructure characteristics, can form the basis for the design of effective approaches towards promoting active transport in Greece.