Exploring the Effects of Carpooling on Travelers’ Behavior during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Case Study of Metropolitan City

Anfeng Xu, Jiming Chen and Zihui Liu
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Anfeng Xu: Economics and Management School, Harbin University of Science and Technology, Harbin 150080, China
Jiming Chen: Economics and Management School, Harbin University of Science and Technology, Harbin 150080, China
Zihui Liu: Economics and Management School, Harbin University of Science and Technology, Harbin 150080, China

Sustainability, 2021, vol. 13, issue 20, 1-19

Abstract: Transportation accounts for more than a quarter of the greenhouse gas emissions that are causing climate change. Carpooling is a subset of the sharing economy, in which individuals share their vehicle with commuters to save travel expenses. In recent decades, carpooling has been promoted as a feasible alternative to car ownership with the potential to alleviate traffic congestion, parking demand, and environmental problems. Unstable economic conditions, cultural norms, and lack of infrastructure make cultural exchange activities and mobility habits different in developing nations to those in developed countries. The rapid evolution of sharing mobility has reshaped travelers’ behavior and created a dire need to determine the travel patterns of commuters living in megacities in developing countries. To obtain data, a web-based stated choice (SC) experiment was used in this study. It used mode-related variables, socioeconomic demographic variables, and a coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) precautionary measure variable. Logit models, namely the mixed logit regression model (ML) and the multinomial logit regression model (MNL), were applied to analyze the available data. According to modeling and survey data, economic variables associated with modes of transport, such as trip time and trip cost, were determined to be significant. Additionally, the results revealed that commuters were more conscious of COVID-19 preventive measures, which was determined to be highly significant. The findings showed that the majority of residents in the COVID-19 pandemic continue to rely on automobiles and motorcycles. It is noteworthy that individuals with more than two members in their family and a travel distance of less than seven miles were more likely to prefer a carpooling service. This study’s findings will provide a basis for researchers to aid existing operators in the field of transportation, as well as offer guidelines for governments in developing countries to enhance the utility of transportation networks.

Keywords: mobility preferences; on-demand service; travelers’ behavior; traffic congestion; eco-friendly mode; developing country (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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