Examining Vehicle Choice Patterns for Intercity Travel During the COVID-19 Pandemic (Case Study: Mazandaran Province)

Document Type : Scientific - Research

Authors
mohammad bakeri 1
Farshidreza Haghighi 2
Amir Izadi 3
1 Ph.D. Candidate, Department of Civil Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Islamic Azad University of Central Tehran Branch, Tehran, Iran
2 Associate Professor, Department of Road and Transportation Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Babol Noshirvani University of Technology, Babol, Iran
3 Assistant Professor, Department of Road and Transportation Engineering, Faculty of Civil Engineering, Shomal University, Amol, Iran
10.22119/jte.2024.450928.2702
Abstract
The current study analyzes the travel choice behavior affected by the COVID-19 virus and the choice of intercity travel methods in Mazandaran province. The objectives of this research include the evaluation of the travel behavior of people affected by the COVID-19 virus. The main research questions also focus on the effects of the COVID-19 virus on people's travel choice behavior, individual and socio-economic factors influencing this choice, travel time variables, and the conditions for compliance with health protocols in public transportation. Data were first collected using a preference survey method, and then a ranking test was conducted to assess the perceived risk of COVID-19. In the next step, a main selection experiment was conducted in the specified mode and finally, using discrete selection modeling theory, the share of trips was predicted. The results of this research showed that various factors, including the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus, individual and socio-economic factors, the travel time variable, and the conditions for compliance with health protocols, affect people's travel choice behavior. The findings of this research suggest practical solutions in order to improve public health policies, public transportation management and event planning during disease outbreak periods.
Keywords
Travel behavior, stated preference, perceived risk, discrete choice model
Subjects
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Quarterly Journal of Transportation Engineering
Volume 17, Issue 1 - Serial Number 66
Autumn 2025
Pages 5023-5047

  • Receive Date 03 April 2024
  • Revise Date 24 October 2024
  • Accept Date 03 November 2024