A recent study by researchers from Arizona State University, the University of Washington, and the University of Texas at Austin reveals that extreme heat significantly affects how people go about their daily lives, especially their travel habits and time spent outside.
As cities around the world face rising temperatures, this research highlights the need for urgent policy changes to help communities cope with the challenges of extreme heat.
The study, titled “Understanding How Extreme Heat Impacts Human Activity-Mobility and Time Use Patterns,” was published in Transportation Research Part D.
It draws on data from the American Time Use Survey (ATUS) and weather information from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA).
The researchers focused on 11 major U.S. cities, including New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, and Miami, to understand how extreme heat affects people’s daily routines.
The study found that extreme heat makes people change their daily routines in significant ways.
On very hot days, people are more likely to stay indoors and reduce their time spent outside.
Activities like leisure trips, shopping, and socializing decrease when temperatures rise. People also adjust their travel times, preferring to go out in the early morning or late evening when it’s cooler, rather than during the hottest part of the day.
Transportation choices also shift under extreme heat. The study found that car use increases while walking, biking, and public transit use drop significantly.
On average, public transit trips decrease by nearly 50% on extremely hot days, as people seek the comfort of air-conditioned private vehicles.
This presents a challenge for cities trying to promote sustainable transportation options like walking and public transit, especially as extreme heat events become more common.
The study also highlights that certain groups are more vulnerable to the effects of extreme heat. Low-income individuals and those without access to cars are more likely to rely on walking or public transportation, which exposes them to dangerous temperatures.
Unlike higher-income individuals, who tend to make fewer trips on hot days, these vulnerable groups often have no choice but to travel, even when temperatures are dangerously high. Older adults also face greater challenges, as they may experience social isolation when they stay indoors to avoid the heat.
“We see that extreme heat worsens the inequalities in how people move around and participate in daily activities,” said Ram Pendyala, one of the study’s authors. “Those who are already disadvantaged, like low-income individuals or those who depend on public transit, are at even greater risk during heat waves. This calls for targeted policy interventions to protect the most vulnerable.”
To address these challenges, the researchers suggest several policy recommendations.
These include creating more shaded public spaces, offering vouchers for on-demand transportation for vulnerable populations, and declaring “extreme heat” days, similar to “snow days,” when people are encouraged to stay indoors, and businesses, schools, and workplaces may close to protect public health.
Additionally, urban design improvements, such as planting more trees and using heat-reflective materials on pavements, can help cities become more resilient to rising temperatures.
Lead co-author Irfan Batur emphasized that addressing the challenges of extreme heat is not just about urban design but also about equity and public health. “We need to take decisive action to ensure that our cities can protect all residents from the dangers of extreme heat,” Batur said.
As extreme heat events become more frequent due to climate change, this study’s findings highlight the urgent need for cities to incorporate heat mitigation strategies into their planning.
The researchers hope their work will prompt policymakers to take immediate steps to create more heat-resilient cities and protect vulnerable populations from the impacts of extreme heat.
If you care about wellness, please read studies about how ultra-processed foods and red meat influence your longevity, and why seafood may boost healthy aging.
For more health information, please see recent studies about the power of pickle juice ,and time-restricted eating: a simple way to fight aging and cancer.
Source: Arizona State University.
