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Changes in Passengers’ Travel Behavior Due to COVID-19

Author

Listed:
  • Dong-Gyun Ku

    (Department of Transportation Engineering, University of Seoul, Seoul 02504, Korea)

  • Jung-Sik Um

    (Department of Transportation Engineering, University of Seoul, Seoul 02504, Korea)

  • Young-Ji Byon

    (Department of Civil Infrastructure and Environmental Engineering, Khalifa University of Science and Technology, Abu Dhabi 127788, United Arab Emirates)

  • Joo-Young Kim

    (Department of Transportation Planning & Management, Korea National University of Transportation, Gyeonggi 16106, Korea)

  • Seung-Jae Lee

    (Department of Transportation Engineering, University of Seoul, Seoul 02504, Korea)

Abstract

The COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 has changed the way people travel due to its highly contagious nature. In this study, changes in the travel behavior of passengers due to COVID-19 in the first half of 2020 were examined. To determine whether COVID-19 has affected the use of transportation by passengers, paired t -tests were conducted between the passenger volume of private vehicles in Seoul prior to and after the pandemic. Additionally, the passenger occupancy rate of different modes of transportation during the similar time periods were compared and analyzed to identify the changes in monthly usage rate for each mode. In the case of private vehicles and public bicycles, the usage rates have recovered or increased when compared to those of before the pandemic. Conversely, bus and rail passenger service rates have decreased from the previous year before the pandemic. Furthermore, it is found that existing bus and rail users have switched to the private auto mode due to COVID-19. Based on the results, traffic patterns of travelers after the outbreak and implications responding to the pandemic are discussed.

Suggested Citation

  • Dong-Gyun Ku & Jung-Sik Um & Young-Ji Byon & Joo-Young Kim & Seung-Jae Lee, 2021. "Changes in Passengers’ Travel Behavior Due to COVID-19," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(14), pages 1-16, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:14:p:7974-:d:595770
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    4. Štefancová Vladimíra & Harantová Veronika & Mazanec Jaroslav & Mašek Jaroslav & Foltýnová Hana Brůhová, 2023. "Analysis of Passenger Behaviour During the Covid-19 Pandemic Situation," LOGI – Scientific Journal on Transport and Logistics, Sciendo, vol. 14(1), pages 203-214, January.
    5. Gong, Mengjie & Xin, Rui & Yang, Jian & Wang, Jiaoe & Li, Tingting & Zhang, Yujuan, 2024. "Spatio-temporal dynamics and recovery of commuting activities via bike-sharing around COVID-19: A case study of New York," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 121(C).
    6. Wen Yang & Quanliang Chen & Jing Yang, 2022. "Factors Affecting Travel Mode Choice between High-Speed Railway and Road Passenger Transport—Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-17, November.
    7. Ishibashi, Sumiko & Kobayashi, Taiki & Taniguchi, Mamoru, 2024. "Does emphasis change in transportation mode choice affect workers’ actual mode choice? Implications from Japan in the COVID-19 era," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 146(C), pages 343-355.
    8. Jun Zhang & Shenghao Zhao & Chaonan Peng & Xianming Gong, 2022. "Spatial Heterogeneity of the Recovery of Road Traffic Volume from the Impact of COVID-19: Evidence from China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-20, November.
    9. Konstantina Anastasiadou & Nikolaos Gavanas & Christos Pyrgidis & Magda Pitsiava-Latinopoulou, 2021. "Identifying and Prioritizing Sustainable Urban Mobility Barriers through a Modified Delphi-AHP Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-18, September.
    10. Soheil Sohrabi & Fang Shu & Anika Gupta & Morteza Hossein Sabbaghian & Amirarsalan Mehrara Molan & Soheil Sajjadi, 2023. "Health Impacts of COVID-19 through the Changes in Mobility," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-20, February.
    11. Lingjuan Chen & Yijing Zhao & Zupeng Liu & Xinran Yang, 2022. "Construction of Commuters’ Multi-Mode Choice Model Based on Public Transport Operation Data," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(22), pages 1-20, November.
    12. Yulong Pei & Xiaoxi Cai & Jie Li & Keke Song & Rui Liu, 2021. "Method for Identifying the Traffic Congestion Situation of the Main Road in Cold-Climate Cities Based on the Clustering Analysis Algorithm," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-31, August.
    13. Wang, Sicheng & Huang, Xiao & Shen, Qing, 2024. "Disparities in resilience and recovery of ridesourcing usage during COVID-19," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).

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