Changes

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Transport authorities in urban areas were forced to adjust services in spring 2020 to the mobility limitations and restrictions applied to the different means of transport. Bus, underground and metropolitan railway services registered significant falls in the amount of passengers due to vehicle occupancy limits, curfews and shutdowns of non-essential economic activities. In addition, public bicycle schemes were suspended, subsidies for the purchase of bicycles and scooters were awarded, and free parking spaces were provided in public areas that previously required payment due to the rise in the use of private vehicles. Lastly, the existing network of bus and bicycle lanes was extended and more streets were designated as pedestrian-only (Báguena, 2020).

The seven underground systems in Spain transported 439.3 million passengers in the four reference months of 2019, yet only 123.9 million during the same period of 2020. This meant a drop of 71.8%, similar to the one registered for urban bus services. Passengers decreased by 91% in April, and they recovered in June 2020 to 60% of the figure recorded the year before. Although underground avoids congestion and therefore does not compete with other means of transport, it registered a drop in the amount of passengers due to the economic standstill of non-essential activities. The metropolitan areas of Madrid and Barcelona accounted for over 80% of underground trips. Next in terms of passengers, albeit a long way behind, came Bilbao underground service, which registered the smallest drop in the amount of passengers, followed by València.

Ticket sales for metropolitan railway services (Cercanías) decreased by 70.5%. The 155.5 million passengers transported in 2019 fell to 45.9 million in the same period of 2020. Madrid and Barcelona, which saw a drop in the amount of passengers by over 70%, accounted for over 80% of all metropolitan railway trips in Spain. Next came València (accounting for 3% of the total amount of passengers), Málaga, Bilbao and Seville (Sevilla).

The widespread of home office, the introduction of flexible working hours and the improvements in electronic ticketing and capacity control systems also influenced figures on urban transport (Báguena, 2020). Another factor that contributed to the decrease in urban transport was the temporary closure of universities and schools and the switch to online lessons. However, this varied from one region to another.

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