Covid-19 pandemic impacts on essential transit riders: Findings from a U.S. Survey

Authors

Qian He
Dana Rowangould
Alex Karner
Matthew Palm
Seth LaRue

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2022

Subject Area

place - north america, planning - surveys, ridership - behaviour, ridership - disadvantage

Keywords

Transportation justice, Covid-19, Public transit, Essential transit riders, Travel behavior

Abstract

The Covid-19 pandemic has decimated public transit service across the United States and caused significant decreases in ridership. Little is known about the reasons for unevenness in pandemic-era mode shifts and the impacts of pandemic-related transit reductions on riders’ day-to-day lives. Using a national survey of U.S. transit riders (n = 500) conducted in fall 2020, this study examines changes in transit use since the pandemic began, the reasons for transit reductions, and the effects of reduced transit use and transit service on transit riders’ ability to meet their travel needs. The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated existing transportation burdens for those who have limited mobility options, those facing socioeconomic challenges, Hispanic or Latinx riders, and female, non-binary or genderqueer people. We close with recommendations for strengthening transit service for these groups in the long term as we recover from the pandemic.

Rights

Permission to publish the abstract has been given by Elsevier, copyright remains with them.

Comments

Transportation Research Part D Home Page:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/13619209

Recommended Citation

He, Q., Rowangould, D., Karner, A., Palm, M., & LaRue, S. (2022). Covid-19 pandemic impacts on essential transit riders: Findings from a U.S. Survey. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, Vol. 105, 103217.