Accessibility-based approach: Shaping travel needs in pandemic situation for planners’ perspectives

The outbreak of acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-Cov-2) causing coronavirus disease (COVID-19) has affected travel behaviors and lifestyles in a matter of days and weeks. In transport planning process, the concept of accessibility is usually interpreted as an acronym of mobility. For decades, researchers have been advocating to interlink the mobility-based approach with accessibility-based approach. Despite considerable research work has been done for the development of accessibility measures, yet its effective use in transport planning is not very pervasive. In this research study, stress is emphasized to reflect on why significant progress for adopting accessibility-based approach has been difficult to accomplish especially in planning practices. Some of the promising efforts made so far have been highlighted. This study provides insights on the power of accessibility-based approach in urban settings and discussed why planners should adopt this approach to reshape safe travel behaviors in uncertain pandemic situations like COVID-19.