How COVID-19 has warped Australia's movement habits

Australians have been driving more and walking less since the COVID-19 outbreak hit our shores, while public transport use has taken a steep dive, according to data released by Apple.

The tech giant has released data showing the changes reflected in user requests for Apple Maps directions since January.

In Australia, driving, walking and public transport direction requests all dived steeply in March, bottoming out in April.

Public transport requests at that point were nearly 90 per cent below the average baseline, while walking and driving requests had dropped about 70 per cent.

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Since then, the numbers climbed more or less steadily until, as of December 20, driving direction requests were 10 per cent above the baseline.

Walking requests were nine per cent below, and public transport was still being shunned at 34 per cent below.

The UK's numbers took a similar dive in March-April, but recovered to soar above the baseline between August and October.

But a late-year plunge has seen driving drop to 31 per cent below the baseline, walking to 37 per cent below, and public transport to 57 per cent below.

US numbers are relatively healthy for driving and walking, at -7 per cent and -9 per cent respectively. But public transport is languishing, with requests down 59 per cent.

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Walking requests took a particularly sharp dive at one point in late November, possibly indicating people celebrating Thanksgiving.

And across the Tasman, New Zealand's numbers are similar to Australia's, with driving up five per cent, walking down 15 per cent, and public transport dropping 39 per cent.

New Zealand's drop in March was sharper and steeper than Australia's, however, likely reflecting the national lockdown in the country towards the end of that month.