Perspectives on social equity in local government administration: Scheduling a city council hearing during San Diego's COVID-19 pandemic

Learning how to ensure public access and advance social equity in the legislative process is critical to navigating an ambiguous local government context. This case study compares and contrasts the perspectives of and diverse demands on two public administrators, the San Diego City Clerk and the Chief of Staff to the San Diego City Council President, as they navigate the critical decision to hold a City Council hearing to consider emergency actions, including direction to draft an eviction moratorium, during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. Through presenting the viewpoints of a leader in an independent city operations department and a leader in an elected official's office, we demonstrate how to analyze and think critically, facilitate public participation, and lead in the public interest. This case study encourages students to develop an awareness of these perspectives and to reflect on social equity through the lens of public access and the legislative process. © 2023 Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration.

The compound risk of heat and COVID-19 in New York City: riskscapes, physical and social factors, and interventions

Climate change is disrupting the fundamental conditions of human life and exacerbating existing inequity by placing further burdens on communities that are already vulnerable. Risk exposure varies by where people live and work. In this article, we examine the spatial overlap of the compound risks of COVID-19 and extreme heat in New York City. We assess the relationship between socio-demographic and natural, built and social environmental characteristics, and the spatial correspondence of COVID-19 daily case rates across three pandemic waves. We use these data to create a compound risk index combining heat, COVID-19, density and social vulnerability. Our findings demonstrate that the compound risk of COVID-19 and heat are public health and equity challenges. Heat and COVID-19 exposure are influenced by natural, built, and social environmental factors, including access to mitigation infrastructure. Socio-demographic characteristics are significant indicators of COVID-19 and heat exposure and of where compound vulnerability exists. Using GIS mapping, we illustrate how COVID-19 risk geographies change across the three waves of the pandemic and the particular impact of vaccinations before the onset of the third wave. We, then, use our compound risk index to assess heat interventions undertaken by the City, identify neighborhoods of both adequate and inadequate coverage and provide recommendations for future interventions. © 2023 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.

How mentally healthy we are during the pandemic? Findings from changed travel behavior.

Background: Many people changed their travel behavior during the coronavirus pandemic with more telecommuting, fewer trip frequencies, and less use of transit and ride-hailing to avoid infection. The lack of outdoor activities may result in social isolation and then trigger anxiety or depressive symptoms. Research objective: This study examines the relationship between anxiety and depression, and correlates various sociodemographic, income, job status, health-related factors, and travel behavior changes in six large U.S. cities. Data: U.S. Census Household Pulse Survey Phases 3.0 and 3.1 are employed. Method: GAD-2 and PHQ-2 are used to screen the scores of anxiety and depression. The synthetic minority oversampling technique is applied to correct sample distribution. The multivariate mixed model is employed to examine relationships. Results: (1) Anxiety and depression are positively correlated, and the percentage of high anxiety is greater than the percentage of high depression. (2) The levels of anxiety and depression significantly vary across the six cities. (3) Women, young, singles, and white people have higher levels of anxiety and depression during the pandemic. (4) People who are willing to receive vaccination tend to have higher levels of anxiety and depression. (5) The prevalence of depressive disorders is significantly lower in the high-income group. (6) People who applied for unemployment insurance and experienced expense difficulties are more likely to suffer high levels of anxiety and depression. (7) Travel behavior changes, measured by increased telecommuting, reduced trip frequency, and reduced use of transit and ride-hailing, all suggest positive correlations with anxiety and depression. Conclusions: More assistance and attention should be given to women, singles, and low-income households to reduce the prevalence of mental stress in vulnerable groups. Telecommuting can be but need to work with other travel demand management strategies. Travel and outdoor activities should be promoted under the new normal.

WATER GOVERNANCE AND SOCIAL EQUITY IN SOUTH AFRICAN RURAL MUNICIPALITIES: A CASE STUDY OF A DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY IN THE EASTERN CAPE PROVINCE

COVID-19 has put addressing inequality in water service provision on top of the global agenda by exposing the high risk posed by the level of water service provision in South Africa. While post-apartheid reforms have improved access, ensuring equity in water service provision has remained a challenge. Therefore, this study examined factors affecting water governance and social equity in rural municipalities and reflects their effects on water service provision. The study adopted a qualitative case study research design and purposive sampling method. Focus group discussions, participant observation, and semi-structured interviews supported by document analysis were used to collect data. Findings revealed that socioeconomic, environmental, institutional, and governance factors highly affect water services resulting in a huge rural-urban gap. The paper concludes that achieving social equity in a society deeply entrenched with inequality, realising human rights, and achieving universal access to water calls for an integrated approach to sustainable development. © 2023, Zibeline International Publishing Sdn. Bhd.. All rights reserved.

Urban Regeneration between Well-Being, Social Determinants and Sustainable Development Goals

From the beginning, the concept of public health is deeply connected to the social development of mankind, focusing on housing and now, during COVID-19 pandemic and the POST-COVID transition, we are witnessing the exacerbation of all those phenomena of social inequality that have clearly highlighted the structural lack of public spaces and services in the most disadvantaged areas of cities. It is therefore necessary to contribute to the improvement of the living conditions of the beneficiary populations not only to ensure the satisfaction of the primary needs for development, but also to make communities less vulnerable to the climate-environmental emergency. Actions outlined by the major international institutions, which through the UN 2030 Agenda provides for the integration of three dimensions of sustainable development—environmental, social and economic. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.

Social equity-based distribution networks design for the COVID-19 vaccine.

This study aims to investigate the role of social equity in vaccine distribution network design problems. Inspired by the current COVID-19 vaccine allocation in-country context, we capture social equity-based distribution by modeling three theories: Rawls' theory, Sadr's theory, and utilitarianism. We consider various social groups based on degree of urbanization, including inhabitants of cities, towns and suburbs, and rural areas. The distribution problem is subject to, on the one hand, demand-side uncertainty characterized by the daily contamination rate and its space-time propagation that anticipate the in-need population. On the other hand, supply-side uncertainty characterized by the stochastic arrival of vaccine doses for the supply period. To tackle this problem, we propose a novel bi-objective two-stage stochastic programming model using the sample average approximation (SAA) method. We also develop a lexicographic goal programming approach where the social equity objective is prioritized, thereafter reaching an efficiency level. Using publicly available data on COVID-19 in-country propagation and the case of two major provinces in Iran as example of middle-income country, we provide evidence of the benefits of considering social equity in a model-based decision-making approach. The findings suggest that the design solution produced by each social equity theory matches its essence in social science, differing considerably from the cost-based design solution. According to the general results, we can infer that each social equity theory has its own merits. Implementing Rawls' theory brings about a greater coverage percentage in rural areas, while utilitarianism results in a higher allocation of vaccine doses to social groups compared to the Sadr and Rawls theories. Finally, Sadr's theory outperforms Rawls' in terms of both the allocation and cost perspective. These insights would help decision-makers leverage the right equity approach in the COVID-19 vaccine context, and be better prepared for any pandemic crisis that the future may unfold.

After lockdown, opening up: Psychosocial transformation in the wake of COVID-19

This edited volume examines the psychosocial transformations experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown, and envisions those that might lead to a more equitable society as we 'open up'. The book integrates psychoanalysis, sociology, cultural studies, and psychology to address three main areas: personal experiences of the lockdown, new formations of power and desire that the lockdown has shaped, and global concerns related to the pandemic. Within those three areas, the chapters discuss key themes that include the uses of space during lockdown;experiences of death, loss, and domestic violence;race and the pandemic;technology, media, and viral media;chronic illness;handwashing and COVID-19;and conspiracy theories. Drawing together academics and practitioners with a common vision of social justice and active pedagogy, the contents of this volume combine experiential writing with cutting-edge, theoretically-informed interdisciplinary debates. The book advances and demonstrates the productive diversity of psychosocial studies, drawing on psychoanalytic theories, critical psychologies, critical theories, critical race theories, process philosophies, affect theories, and critical pedagogy. In doing so, it will appeal to scholars across the social sciences. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Challenging austerity under the COVID-19 state

The COVID-19 pandemic represented a short-term shift in US social policy. Under the CARES Act and the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA), the federal government prioritised households by raising the floor for child support and unemployment benefits, and restoring fiscal federalism by providing increased funds to state and local governments. Our 2021 nationwide survey finds local governments with more citizen participation and Black Lives Matter protests plan to prioritise social equity investments, while those with more Trump voters plan to prioritise physical infrastructure with their ARPA funds. COVID-19 led to new policy approaches that expand government investment. While the federal changes for households (expanded unemployment insurance and child tax credits) ended in 2021, the increased aid to state and local governments continues. These have the potential to help reshape citizen expectations and repair federal-state-local relations.

A sense of belonging in Australian higher education: the significance of self-efficacy and the student-educator relationship

With recent massification policies and reforms, Australia’s widening participation agenda has been instrumental in increasing participation of marginalised students in higher education. This paper considers how a sense of belonging can be instilled in marginalised students, improving retention and success and ultimately widening participation in higher education. It is recognised that one of the most important contributors to student engagement is the educator. Unfortunately, in academia today, educators are increasingly time-poor for several reasons including the neo-liberal nature of higher education, the COVID-19 pandemic and an emergency move to remote teaching. This article applies Bandura’s concept of self-efficacy to highlight how, when nurtured effectively, the student-educator relationship can contribute to improving students’ self-efficacy and their sense of belonging. Self-efficacy has been shown to affect aspirations, behavioural choices, maintenance of effort and affective reactions (Bandura, 1997), all of which can contribute to, or inhibit, students’ academic success. Self-efficacy can be increased via four sources: mastery experiences, verbal persuasion, vicarious experiences, and emotional and physiological states (Bandura, 1997). Central to this discussion is the value of vicarious experiences as a conduit between the educator and student in developing a student’s self-efficacy. This article provides practical advice for educators so they may focus their efforts and build strong student relationships in the most effective manner. © 2022, University of Wollongong. All rights reserved.

How to improve public health literacy based on polycentric public goods theory: preferences of the Chinese general population.

BACKGROUND: In the current era of big data, it is critical to address people's demand for health literacy. At present, the traditional mode of communicating scientific health knowledge and information technology is interchangeable, resulting in the emergence of a new mode of communicating health literacy. To publicize health education and health literacy in a targeted way, to meet the public's needs, and to understand how the public's demand for subjects, contents, and forms of health literacy service has changed in the era of COVID-19, the investigation of public's demand for health information and health literacy was conducted. OBJECTIVE: This study aims to understand the differences in demand for health literacy service providers, contents, channels, forms, and facilities among Chinese citizens with different genders, ages, education levels, economic conditions, and living environments, and to provide reasonable recommendations for developing public health literacy. METHODS: Questionnaire Star was used to conduct a large sample of random online surveys. In Wuhan, Hubei Province, 2184 questionnaires were issued, 8 invalid questionnaires were eliminated, and 2176 were recovered, with an effective rate of 99.6%. IBM SPSS Statistics 20 was utilized to analyze the survey data. RESULTS: (1) In health literacy service providers selected by the public, the proportion of government departments or government collaboration with other institutions exceeded 73%, indicating that health literacy services are public goods; (2) access to health literacy services was lower in township areas than in urban areas (P < 0.001, 3) internet media and communicating with acquaintances, which have the highest popularity rate, were also the two channels that were least trusted by the public; and (4) the differences in contents and service channels of health literacy among residents with different genders, ages, education levels, economic status, and living environments were statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: (1) It is recommended to establish an integrated health literacy service model with multi-center supply. Government departments, medical institutions, and media should cooperate effectively to provide health literacy services. (2) The government should pay attention to the fairness of health education and strengthen the supply of health literacy services in township areas. (3) It is critical to strengthen the public's ability to discriminate network information and pay attention to scientific thinking cultivation. (4) Health literacy service providers must focus on the differences between public demands and improve the connotation of health literacy services.

Facing social disparity and racial justice issues regarding Covid-19 and access to behavioral health care in the U.S

The Covid-19 pandemic exposed and amplified many problems in political and healthcare systems around the world, and the United States has been no exception. One such issue is racial injustice, including its impact as a social determinant of health and its manifestation in disparities in healthcare access-including behavioral healthcare. This paper examines this problem in detail and highlights the work of the Center for Practice Innovations. This intermediary organization provides training and implementation support to behavioral healthcare organizations across New York State. This work includes changes and awareness building related to racial injustice within its organization that will drive changes in training and supports provided to behavioral healthcare organizations across New York State. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved) (Italian) La pandemia di Covid-19 ha portato alla luce e amplificato molti problemi nei sistemi politici e sanitari in tutto il mondo, e gli Stati Uniti non hanno fatto eccezione. Uno di questi problemi e l'ingiustizia razziale, compreso il suo impatto come determinante sociale della salute e la sua manifestazione nelle disparita di accesso all'assistenza sanitaria - compresi i servizi di salute comportamentale. Questo documento esamina il problema nel dettaglio e evidenzia il lavoro del Center for Practice Innovations. Questa organizzazione intermediaria fornisce formazione e supporto nell'implementazione alle organizzazioni di assistenza sanitaria comportamentale in tutto lo Stato di New York. Questo lavoro include i cambiamenti e il consolidamento della consapevolezza relativi all'ingiustizia razziale all'interno della sua organizzazione, che guideranno i cambiamenti nella formazione e nei supporti forniti alle organizzazioni e servizi di salute comportamentale in tutto lo Stato di New York. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Barriers Affecting Women’s Access to Urban Green Spaces during the COVID-19 Pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, urban green spaces (UGS) have gained relevance as a resilience tool that can sustain or increase well-being and public health in cities. However, several cities in Latin America have seen a decrease in their UGS use rates during the health emergency, particularly among vulnerable groups such as women. Using Mexico City as a case study, this research examines the main barriers affecting women’s access to UGS during the COVID-19 pandemic in Latin America. We applied a sequential mixed-methods approach in which the results of a survey distributed via social media in June 2020 to women aged 18 and older were used to develop semi-structured interviews with 12 women during October 2020. One year later, in November 2021, the continuity of the themes was evaluated through focus groups with the same group of women who participated in the interviews. Our results suggest that (1) prohibiting access to some UGS during the first months of the pandemic negatively impacted UGS access for women in marginalized neighborhoods;(2) for women, the concept of UGS quality and safety are intertwined, including the security level of the surrounding streets;and (3) women who live in socially cohesive neighborhoods indicated using UGS to a greater extent. Our findings highlight that while design interventions can affect women’s willingness to use UGS by improving their perceived safety and comfort, they remain insufficient to fully achieve equity in access to UGS.

Social work and the COVID-19 crisis in the United States

Currently, death rates for COVID-19 are increasing in 22 states. It is no exaggeration to say that the Trump administration's response to the coronavirus has been an absolute and complete disaster. The lived and work experiences of many social workers expose us to the cruel realities of racial capitalism unmasked. Social workers understand that the outcomes of COVID-19 are just one more example of institutional racism, classism, sexism and income inequality that has existed in the United States since the founding of this country. The present crisis poses an enormous challenge for progressive social workers and all activists who recognise that the greater pandemic afflicting our planet is capitalism, and in the United States, its particularly toxic form-racial capitalism. Social workers and our community members need to be a part of the multiracial working- class movement that is fighting for policies like defunding the police and investing in communities, prison abolition, Medicare for All, the cancellation of all medical and student debt, a green new deal and rent control The only solution is fundamental change: another world is possible but we have to, and we will, fight for it. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Alzheimer's Association report

This article describes the public health impact of Alzheimer's disease (AD), including incidence and prevalence, mortality and morbidity, use and costs of care, and the overall impact on caregivers and society. The Special Report discusses the challenges of providing equitable health care for people with dementia in the United States. An estimated 6.2 million Americans age 65 and older are living with Alzheimer's dementia today. This number could grow to 13.8 million by 2060 barring the development of medical breakthroughs to prevent, slow or cure AD. Official death certificates recorded 121,499 deaths from AD in 2019, the latest year for which data are available, making Alzheimer's the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States and the fifth-leading cause of death among Americans age 65 and older. Between 2000 and 2019, deaths from stroke, heart disease and HIV decreased, whereas reported deaths from AD increased more than 145%. This trajectory of deaths from AD was likely exacerbated in 2020 by the COVID-19 pandemic. More than 11 million family members and other unpaid caregivers provided an estimated 15.3 billion hours of care to people with Alzheimer's or other dementias in 2020. These figures reflect a decline in the number of caregivers compared with a decade earlier, as well as an increase in the amount of care provided by each remaining caregiver. Unpaid dementia caregiving was valued at $256.7 billion in 2020. Its costs, however, extend to family caregivers' increased risk for emotional distress and negative mental and physical health outcomes-costs that have been aggravated by COVID-19. Average per-person Medicare payments for services to beneficiaries age 65 and older with AD or other dementias are more than three times as great as payments for beneficiaries without these conditions, and Medicaid payments are more than 23 times as great. Total payments in 2021 for health care, long-term care and hospice services for people age 65 and older with dementia are estimated to be $355 billion. Despite years of efforts to make health care more equitable in the United States, racial and ethnic disparities remain-both in terms of health disparities, which involve differences in the burden of illness, and health care disparities, which involve differences in the ability to use health care services. Blacks, Hispanics, Asian Americans and Native Americans continue to have a higher burden of illness and lower access to health care compared with Whites. Such disparities, which have become more apparent during COVID-19, extend to dementia care. Surveys commissioned by the Alzheimer's Association recently shed new light on the role of discrimination in dementia care, the varying levels of trust between racial and ethnic groups in medical research, and the differences between groups in their levels of concern about and awareness of Alzheimer's disease. These findings emphasize the need to increase racial and ethnic diversity in both the dementia care workforce and in Alzheimer's clinical trials. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2022 APA, all rights reserved)

Uncertainty and unrest: A collaborative pedagogical response to pandemics, protests, and policy

This article presents the pedagogical, observational, and empirical findings from a social equity centered team-taught course that served as an effective learning approach for both students and faculty during a time of great uncertainty and unrest in 2020. The article begins by describing the context for why this course was offered, outlining the need to use a collaborative teaching approach that centers social equity and interdisciplinary expertise when issues such as a global pandemic and racial injustice arise. The authors then describe the methodology and findings associated with surveying students and faculty members who were engaged with the course and share four themes that emerged from the research. The authors conclude by sharing lessons learned, recommendations, and a call to action to scholars and practitioners to use a collaborative pedagogical approach that centers social equity and interdisciplinary expertise when addressing complex and timely issues in public administration. © 2022 Network of Schools of Public Policy, Affairs, and Administration.

Communication and leadership in times of crisis: analyzing the cultural competency of US state governors during the vaccine administration phase of the COVID-19 pandemic

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to analyze the common vaccine equity practices expressed by United States (US) governors in their COVID-19 press conferences—with a specific focus on equitable vaccine distribution and overcoming vaccine hesitancy—in order to provide an understanding of gubernatorial cultural competency during the vaccine administration phase of the pandemic. Design/methodology/approach: This article employs a qualitative content analysis of the COVID-19 press conferences held by US governors from November 1, 2020, to August 14, 2021, to inductively identify themes in socially equitable and culturally competent vaccine administration strategies and rhetoric. Findings: The article finds that common strategies aimed at providing equitable access to vaccines and combating vaccine hesitancy in communities of color include utilizing data to target communities where vaccines are needed, meeting people where they are at by working with community leaders and organizations, addressing language concerns, educating skeptics and appealing to communitarian and familial values. The findings also show that US governors tended to embrace a general prioritization lens rather than focusing on the unique needs of communities of color, with scant attention paid to the historical instances of public health discrimination that have influenced vaccine hesitancy within such communities. Originality/value: This article provides an understanding of the equitable and culturally competent messages and strategies conveyed by sub-national leaders during the vaccination phase of the COVID-19 pandemic. © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited.

Exploring the relationship between the COVID-19 pandemic and changes in travel behaviour: A qualitative study.

During the COVID-19 crisis, a series of measures were taken to restrict travel and social activities outside the home in order to curb the pandemic and ameliorate its negative effects. These unprecedented measures have had a profound impact on the number and purposes of trips and modes of travel. In China, although the pandemic is now generally under control and transport availability has returned to nearly normal, the extent of the changes in travel behaviour wrought during and after the pandemic still remains unclear. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to investigate the differences in individual travel behaviours during and after the COVID-19 pandemic, using Huzhou as an example. Semi-structured interviews were used to examine the influence of COVID-19 on the travel behaviour and perceptions of different groups. The results indicate that, initially, travel demand was greatly reduced. Second, decreased travel reduced participation in activities, which can have adverse effects on people's health as well as their subjective well-being. Third, the degree and duration of such impacts varied from person to person. Students, lower income cohorts, groups living in small communities with insufficient green spaces, and those working in tourism, catering, informal businesses and transport-related sectors were more vulnerable than others. Policymakers, urban and transport planners should therefore pay attention to the social inequities that arise from unequal access to transport and heterogeneity between individuals. Additionally, public transport systems require further development to promote social cohesion.

Teaching with Microbes: Lessons from Fermentation during a Pandemic.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic introduced unique challenges to teaching at the university level, while also heightening awareness of existing social and health disparities as these shaped interactions and influenced learning outcomes in class settings. Based on ethnographic and autoethnographic data, this article reflects on teaching about human-microbial relations in the context of the course "Anthropology of Food" and specifically at the start of the pandemic. Data demonstrate how students shifted from demystifying microbes to distrusting microbes to reacquainting with microbes through a hands-on experiment with fermentation. The article introduces a microbiopolitical perspective in interpreting students' learning trajectories and ultimate course outcomes. IMPORTANCE As evidenced by classroom experiences in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, microbes are "good to teach with" not only within microbiology and related fields but across a variety of academic disciplines. Thinking with microbes is not a neutral process but one shaped by social, political, and economic processes. Imploring students to contemplate how power dynamics and patterns of inequality are detectable at the microbial level may offer a unique opportunity for transforming one's view of the world and our relatedness with both humans and nonhumans.

Dueling emergencies: Flood evacuation ridesharing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Volunteered sharing of resources is often observed in response to disaster events. During evacuations the sharing of resources and vehicles is a crucial mechanism for expanding critical capacity and enabling inclusive disaster response. This paper examines the complexity of rideshare decision-making in the wake of simultaneous emergencies. Specifically, the need for physical distancing measures during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic complicates face-to-face resource sharing between strangers. The ability of on-demand ridesharing to provide emergency transportation to individuals without access to alternatives calls for an understanding of how evacuees weigh risks of contagion against benefits of spontaneous resource sharing. In this research, we examine both sociodemographic and situational factors that contribute to a willingness to share flood evacuation rides with strangers during the COVID-19 pandemic. We hypothesize that the willingness to share is significantly correlated with traditional emergency resource sharing motivations and current COVID-19 risk factors. To test these hypotheses, we distributed an online survey during the pandemic surge in July 2020 to 600 individuals in three midwestern and three southern states in the United States with high risk of flooding. We estimate a random parameter multinomial logit model to determine the willingness to share a ride as a driver or passenger. Our findings show that willingness to share evacuation rides is associated with individual sociodemographics (such as being female, under 36 years old, Black, or republican-identifying) and the social environment (such as households with children, social network proximity, and neighborly sharing attitudes). Moreover, our findings suggest higher levels of income, COVID-19 threat perception, evacuation fear, and household preparedness all correspond with a lower willingness to share rides. We discuss the broader implications of emergency on-demand mobility during concurrent disasters to formulate strategies for transportation agencies and on-demand ridehailing providers.

Building back better: The COVID-19 pandemic and transport policy implications for a developing megacity.

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected human mobility via lockdowns, social distancing rules, home quarantines, and the full or partial suspension of transportation. Evidence-based policy recommendations are urgently needed to ensure that transport systems have resilience to future pandemic outbreaks, particularly within Global South megacities where demand for public transport is high and reduced access can exacerbate socio-economic inequalities. This study focuses on Metro Manila - a characteristic megacity that experienced one of the most stringent lockdowns worldwide. It analyzes aggregated cell phone and GPS data from Google and Apple that provide a comprehensive representation of mobility behavior before and during the lockdown. While significant decreases are observed for all transport modes, public transport experienced the largest drop (-74.5 %, on average). The study demonstrates that: (i) those most reliant on public transport were disproportionately affected by lockdowns; (ii) public transport was unable to fulfil its role as public service; and, (iii) this drove a paradigm shift towards active mobility. Moving forwards, in the short-term policymakers must promote active mobility and prioritize public transport to reduce unequal access to transport. Longer-term, policymakers must leverage the increased active transport to encourage modal shift via infrastructure investment, and better utilize big data to support decision-making.