Significant drop observed in mobility during November

Mobility in Germany Decreases Significantly in November 2020

Mobility in Germany saw a significant decrease in November 2020, according to data from the Federal Statistical Office. The decrease was particularly evident in long-distance travel, as shown by the sparsely occupied ICE trains.

The partial lockdown measures implemented in November may have contributed to this reduction in long-distance travel. On weekdays, mobility was on average 7% below the level of the previous year in the first four weeks of the lockdown. On weekends, the decrease was more pronounced, with mobility decreasing by around 15%.

In Hamburg and Berlin, average mobility decreased by approximately 19% in November 2020 compared to November 2019. Similarly, in Bremen, average mobility decreased by around 16%. However, in Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, mobility was about 9% higher in November 2020 compared to the previous year. Brandenburg, on the other hand, saw mobility about 12% higher than in November 2019.

The visual evidence of the sparsely occupied ICE trains suggests a nationwide trend of reduced mobility in November 2020. ICE trains, specifically, showed sparsely occupied conditions after the start of the lockdown on 04.11.2020. The avoidance of long trips may have been a factor in the mobility decreases seen in Hamburg, Berlin, Bremen, and other federal states in November 2020.

Overall, mobility in Germany decreased by 8.5% in November 2020 compared to the same month in 2019. The average travel distance also decreased by 10% on weekdays and by 25% on weekends compared to the previous year.

This decrease in mobility is not entirely surprising, given the circumstances. The pandemic and the resulting measures have had a profound impact on people's lives and behaviours. The data suggests that many Germans chose to avoid long trips in November 2020, contributing to the overall decrease in mobility.

As we move forward, it will be interesting to see how mobility patterns evolve in response to changing circumstances and measures. The data from November 2020 provides a valuable snapshot of a moment in time, offering insights into the impact of the pandemic on people's travel habits.