Low-Carbon Mobility Actions for Canadian Municipalities: COVID-19 Companion Report

As a follow-up to The Delphi Group and Pollution Probe’s report Opportunities for Low-Carbon Mobility Actions in Canadian Municipalities: Best Practices and Guidance, Natural Resources Canada contracted the co-authors to develop Low-Carbon Mobility Actions for Canadian Municipalities: COVID-19 Companion Report — a companion piece which details the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on actions explored in the original report.

Key findings detailed in the companion report include:

• An analysis of transit ridership levels, epicenters of outbreaks, and teleworking demographics indicates that COVID-19 is largely a blue-collar disease. This suggests that cities should prioritize mobility actions that explicitly address the challenges faced by low-income, marginalized communities.
• Cities should continue to prioritize actions to enhance the feasibility of active transportation options. Other innovative measures include support for off-peak freight deliveries, transit-on-demand pilots, and expanding micro-mobility options.
• Privately-owned vehicles are viewed by most as the safest mode of travel, and preliminary findings suggest that ownership levels have been increasing in cities. As a result, cities should continue to encourage passenger zero-emission vehicle adoption.
• Teleworking is a trend that is likely to persist after the virus begins to subside. It presents major opportunities for urban planners and transportation managers, and it is critical that these are understood by municipal planners and decision-makers.