What matters to achieve self-contained neighborhood in the new normal era? Analysis of travel behavior changes in Singapore

This paper examines the measurement of self-containment and disparities in Singapore’s neighborhoods, exploring the '15-minute city' model, which promotes proximity to urban amenities. The study investigates the influence of land use diversity and accessibility to jobs and urban amenities on mobility changes using a dynamic DID and event study model, identifying key factors contributing to self-containment. It includes a long-term analysis of mobility pattern changes across four COVID-19 phases, capturing persistent behavior shifts in the new normal. The findings show that neighborhoods with greater accessibility to retail, food establishments, and leisure facilities experienced the most significant decreases in traffic volumes during weekends and weekday evenings, a trend that persisted into the endemic era. In contrast, the job-housing ratio had a lesser impact on morning traffic volume changes. The study provides insights for planning resilient neighborhoods based on the concept of self-containment.