Changes in travel demand during the Covid-19 pandemic and their implications for climate change

The Covid-19 pandemic led to a reduction in both car mileage driven and the number of public transport passengers. There was a larger reduction in the use of public transport than in the use of cars. Car traffic rebounded in 2021 and is now at roughly the same level as in 2019. Traffic volume in public transport remains low. The sale of new cars in 2021 was the highest on record. Most new cars are electric. Several factors point in the direction of increased car use and reduced use of public transport in the future: changes in preferences during the pandemic towards more individual transport, a higher proportion working remotely, which travel more with public transport to work than those who doesn’t work remotely, fear of infection during the pandemic may cause increased discomfort during congestion, and an increased share of electric cars makes the car journey cheaper.