Economic vulnerabilities and pandemic mobilities: Mobility of low-income populations in İstanbul during the Covid-19 pandemic

Akyelken, Nihan; Beyazit, Eda; Kayaoğlu, Ayşegül; Yıldırım, Şeyda Nur; Tanyeri, Fatma Nur

Abstract

This paper explores the everyday mobilities of low-income populations during the Covid-19 pandemic through a mixed-methods study in İstanbul. It shows how additional economic burdens brought by the Covid-19 pandemic interplay with low-income residents’ attitudes towards using different transport modes, mobility levels, and concerns over public transport use based on socioeconomic and demographic differences. It suggests that household structures, social networks and perceived mobility restrictions tend to be associated with mobility patterns and practices. The paper argues that changes and continuities in mobility trends and practices due to the pandemic should be considered with broader social and economic dynamics at the household and community level. It draws key lessons learned concerning the pandemic mobilities to be transferred to future transport policy and mobility governance so that intragenerational inequalities could be mainstreamed in these policy domains.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 7, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Oct 21, 2023
• Publication Date: Nov 30, 2023
• Deposit Date: Jun 4, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Oct 22, 2025
• Journal: Habitat International
• Print ISSN: 0197-3975
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 141
• Article Number: 102903
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.habitatint.2023.102903
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/12034550