Dynamics of Campus Travel Behavior under the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has shown to be a global challenge that, in addition to other effects, has influenced travel behavior. This study examines factors affecting academic travelers’ mode choice before and during the pandemic and factors contributing to sustainable transportation on campus. By examining their travel patterns and behaviors, we contribute to understanding transportation preferences and identifying opportunities for sustainable transportation on university campuses. Studying academic travelers is crucial as they are significant daily travelers with a substantial impact on transportation systems and the environment. Understanding their mode choices helps transportation planners and policymakers promote sustainable transportation options. The literature has identified influential factors in making trips to university campuses, including age, gender, accommodation, cost, and travel time. However, cross-sectional studies involving comprehensive variables are lacking and the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on transportation has not been thoroughly evaluated. To address this gap, the current study aims to evaluate novel variables, including intra-transport modes, entry permits, accessibility, parking availability, occupations, level of study, travel purpose, and visit frequency. The University of Isfahan, accessible by all modes of transport, was selected as the study area. After analyzing the questionnaire and variables using SPSS software (IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows, Version 22.0 Released 2013), travel behavior was studied by discrete choice models and the models’ coefficients were estimated using NLOGIT. The finding demonstrated that using private modes (taxi, private vehicle, and active modes) increased in response to the pandemic, while using public modes (bus or subway) represented a decline. Before and during the pandemic, most people who had the same trip purpose shifted from taking the bus to using private vehicles and active transportation. Generally, people became more inclined to walk on campus during the pandemic. This study aimed to examine the travel behavior of academic travelers, who possess diverse travel choices compared with typical commuters, thus providing valuable insights into how the broader population might respond to different transportation options. The findings offer a novel perspective for university and city planners, enabling more informed decisions regarding sustainable development in campus areas.