A case study on the impacts of COVID-19 on bus ridership, bikesharing, and equity in a small U.S. county

Abstract

Several studies highlight how the coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdowns have permanently changed the way people travel, but there has been less focus on impacts outside major metropolitan areas, where alternative transportation modes are more limited or scarce. This case study focuses on the long-term effects of the COVID-19 lockdowns on public transit and bikesharing using micro-level data in Lane County, Oregon. Lane County reflects the nearly 3,000 small U.S. counties that are a mixture of rural and urban landscape. Findings show that both transportation modes have begun to recover after large reductions in usage, though bikesharing seems to be less resilient relative to public transit 18-months post-lockdown. Additionally, findings show changes in bus ridership and bikeshare trips differed based on sociodemographic characteristics, though bikeshare trips were more sensitive to change. For example, there were statistically significant differences in bikeshare trips among tracts with a higher proportion of Black, Hispanic, or low-income residents, but no such differences for bus ridership. Given that small U.S. counties are typically less diverse, if not addressed, inequitable access could worsen in the long-run. Results from this case study could help inform other small U.S. counties, especially those that do not have the resources to collect micro-level data and are based around a university or where public transit is free for a large portion of the population, on future local policies regarding urban mobility and equity.