Exploring variation in mobility and travel behavior during the COVID-19 pandemic: a case study in the Western Province of Sri Lanka

Pubudu Damsara, Dimantha De Silva, H.R. Pasindu and Thilanka Munasinghe

Chapter 3 in Research Handbook on Transport and COVID-19, 2025, pp 50-80 from Edward Elgar Publishing

Abstract: The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly altered global travel behavior, prompting substantial changes in mobility patterns and travel frequency. Reduced out-of-home activities and the adoption of concepts such as e-learning, e-commerce, and remote work have been key contributors to these shifts. As the pandemic has unfolded worldwide, the impact on travel behavior has evolved, reflecting changing responses to the crisis over time. This study focuses on delineating alterations in travel behavior within the Western Province of Sri Lanka, particularly concerning the selection of transportation modes for various trip purposes amidst the “new normal” conditions. Specifically, it examines three distinct time frames: pre-COVID-19, post-first wave, and during the second wave of the outbreak. Data on trip frequency and transportation mode choices for different trip purposes during a typical week were collected through an online questionnaire survey conducted in two phases: May 2020 and May 2021. The findings indicate a notable departure from public transportation modes across all trip purposes and a decrease in the number of out-of-home activities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Health concerns among passengers and challenges in maintaining social distancing measures while traveling emerged as primary drivers for this shift in transportation mode choice. These insights offer valuable guidance for transit agencies and transport authorities as they navigate decision-making processes to address people's mobility needs amid a pandemic like COVID-19.

Keywords: Transport Mode Choice; Mobility; Travel behavior; COVID-19; Western Province; Sri Lanka (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
ISBN: 9781802208009
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