Covid-19 couldn’t car less? Examining the pandemic’s effects on urban mobility and the implications for a carbon-neutral and inclusive transition. A case study from Hamburg, Germany.

Sammanfattning: The global pandemic of Covid-19 has drastically changed the behaviour of citizens around the world. This research aims to identify actions that ensure low-carbon, inclusive forms of mobility that respond to the behavioural changes during Covid-19. The city of Hamburg, Germany, and its problems with transport-related emissions and socio-economic inequalities serve as a representative case study. The results of a conducted survey, show that the pandemic has both led to carbon-low and carbon- intensive behavioural changes. Desirable behaviour changes for the Post-Covid-19 future are defined based on Sen’s capabilities approach. This research concludes that in order to react to the behavioural changes related to the pandemic, a restriction of car traffic and structural changes are needed, which comes with a series of challenges connected to governmental organizations and power dynamics. To overcome these challenges this research suggests participation practices according to the Right to the City narrative.