Abstract

BOCCOLINI, Sara M.. Challenges and opportunities in a counter-urbanized metropolis. Regional mobility in times of COVID-19. Bitácora Urbano Territorial [online]. 2022, vol.32, n.2, pp.115-130.  Epub July 06, 2022. ISSN 0124-7913.  https://doi.org/10.15446/bitacora.v32n2.99771.

In a profoundly unequal metropolis, daily mobility strategies allow the development of interpersonal assistance and support networks, as well as access to strategic resources/services that secure an adequate quality of life. According to this premise, I explored the increase in socioeconomic/health vulnerability and conflicts that emerged from mobility restrictions for containment and prevention of COVID-19 infections in the Metropolitan Region of Cordoba (Argentina) during 2020.

I analyzed statistics, technical studies and press testimonials to characterize the socio-functional structure of the region, its daily mobility patterns and how the latter were transformed due to those restrictions. Finally, I characterized its impact on people's quality of life.

The results show that the contradictions between those restrictions and the daily mobility patterns (structured by counter-urbanization and daily swaying migration that characterize the region) aggravate existing vulnerability and create new risks that affect the entire population, but specially the most impoverished groups, youth and women. This affirms the importance of incorporating regional daily mobility as a strategic factor in the development of effective, sustainable and inclusive health policies.

Keywords : metropolitan areas; urbanization; daily mobility; regional planning.

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