Effects of COVID-19 on Travel Behavior and Mode Choice: A Case Study for the Bangkok Metropolitan Area

Hamza Zubair, Ampol Karoonsoontawong and Kunnawee Kanitpong
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Hamza Zubair: Department of Transportation Engineering, School of Engineering and Technology, Asian Institute of Technology, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand
Ampol Karoonsoontawong: Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok 10140, Thailand
Kunnawee Kanitpong: Department of Transportation Engineering, School of Engineering and Technology, Asian Institute of Technology, Pathum Thani 12120, Thailand

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 15, 1-26

Abstract: This research compared the primary purpose of travelling, mode choice, factors affecting mode choice, and frequency of working from home before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Bangkok, Thailand using statistical tests and multinomial regression modelling. The Thailand Government applied various restrictions such as limited gathering, mandatory face masks, and closure of institutes to control the pandemic’s spread. The study results show a significant difference in the purpose of primary trips, distance travelled, travel time, number of primary trips, and mode chosen for the primary trips before and during the pandemic. People shifted from working to shopping trips, public to private transport or active modes, and in-person/office work to online working during COVID-19. Male respondents showed higher chances of using public transport than female respondents and gave higher preference to pandemic-related factors for the mode selection during the pandemic. The Government should take actions based on COVID-19 measures such as mandatory face masks, contactless tickets, and sanitization disinfectant booths on every transit station to promote public transport usage. People shifted from public to active modes during the pandemic. There is a need for the improvements of the walkways and footpaths to attract people to use active modes in the future.

Keywords: COVID-19; primary trips; travel behavior; mode choice; frequency of working from home; Mann–Whitney U test; McNemar test; McNemar Bowker test (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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