Switching back to transit? Post-pandemic commute choices and emotional response

During the COVID-19 pandemic, public transit (PT) systems faced major disruptions and heightened safety concerns. While some pre-pandemic PT commuters shifted to telecommuting, others continued using PT or switched to cars. This study adopts a quasi-longitudinal approach to examine the socio-demographic and emotional factors associated with commute mode choices before, during, and after the pandemic among essential workers who could not telecommute. Using a case study design and retrospective survey data from 350 employees at the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal, Canada, we analyze three groups of pre-pandemic PT users: consistent PT users (PT-PT-PT), temporary car users who returned to PT (PT-Car-PT), and permanent car switchers (PT-Car-Car). Multinomial logistic regression results show strong correlations between post-pandemic commuting patterns and transit proximity, employment type, and cultural background. Individuals living within 2 km of a metro or train station, older workers, and those in administrative or professional roles were more likely to remain transit users. Conversely, younger individuals, nurses, and those working evening or night shifts were more likely to shift to car use. Commute-related emotions also varied across groups. Consistent PT users reported less variation in safety concerns and commuting stress, likely reflecting the comfort of habitual use. PT-Car-PT users expressed a stronger sense of captivity after returning to transit, while PT-Car-Car users reported lingering stress that, combined with practical factors such as bedside work, off-peak schedules, and vehicle access, reinforced their continued reliance on cars. Improving service reliability, comfort, and perceived safety is essential to enhance positive emotional responses and support long-term transit loyalty.