A transition of shared mobility in metro cities; a challenge post Covid 19 lockdown

TL;DR

This paper examines the impact of COVID-19 lockdown on shared mobility in Delhi, analyzing how shifts to single occupancy vehicles affect traffic congestion and pollution, using BPR modeling and mode share data.

Contribution

It introduces a BPR-based model to evaluate traffic and pollution impacts of reduced shared mobility post-COVID in Delhi, providing insights for sustainable transit recovery.

Findings

Increased vehicle volume leads to higher traffic congestion.

Reduced shared mobility worsens pollution levels.

Cities with high transit ridership face extreme traffic risks.

Abstract

This chapter is written for the welfare of the society, questioning and enlightening the effects of the increment or decrement in the percentage of quality of air causing pollution due to the rise in the traffic post lockdown due to COVID 19 in metro cities, specifically in Delhi. In this chapter, we address the question about people's preference in moving in the shared taxis to their workplaces or their reluctance and denial of the idea of moving in the shared vehicle because of the fear of getting infected. The sensitivity of the situation will compel the people to move in a single occupied vehicle (SOV). The rise in the number of vehicles on the roads will result in traffic jams and different kinds of pollution where people battling with the pandemic will inevitably get exposed to other health related issues. We use a BPR (Bureau of Public Roads) model to combat this issue endangering the environment and public health. We exploit the BPR function to relate average travel time to the estimated number of commuters travelling by car. We collect mode share data from the NITI Ayog, the State Resource Centre and other authentic sources, which gives unique figures of the impact of shared mobility in India and how, in its absence, various sectors will get affected. Using the given data and the BPR, we evaluate increased vehicle volumes on the road if different portions of transit and carpool users switch to single occupancy vehicles and its effect on multiple other factors. Based on the study of densely populated city, Delhi, we predict that cities with significant transit ridership are at risk for extreme traffic and pollution unless transit systems can resume safe with effective protocols.