Effects of the COVID-19 lockdown on bike-sharing usage:
Empirical evidence comparing men and women on cycling activities
Palavras-chave:
bike-sharing, pandemic, COVID-19, urban mobility, lockdown, public policy.Resumo
The pandemic of the new coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) motivated several social changes, and the prevention measures to prevent the spread affected all modes of transport. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends walking and cycling for urban transportation. In this way, this study aims to analyze bicycle usage during the pandemic period. The study surveyed 821 cyclings from March 1, 2021, to April 30, 2021, in three phases: pre-lockdown, lockdown, and post-lockdown. We evaluate bicycle use in Leisure, Work, Physical Activity, and Not Used, comparing the McNemar test responses. Then we compute the phi coefficient (φ) for each activity, lockdown phase, and gender. The data was analyzed by Smallest Space. The results showed a decrease in the system during the lockdown, mainly utilizing physical activities and leisure. In addition, males used the system more than females. At the same time, men are likely to use bicycles mostly for physical exercises and partially for leisure activities, while women show less eagerness to bike usage, mainly during the lockdown period and partial use for leisure activities (excluding the lockdown phase). In conclusion, public policies must promote cyclist safety. Actions to reduce urban violence and better cycle lanes can facilitate the inclusion of female users.
