COVID-19 stimulated travel behavior policy framework with evidence from travel change in southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

: The COVID-19 pandemic unprecedentedly redefined urban mobility as some spread containment protocols, such as lockdown, travel restrictions, and physical distancing, directly impinged mobility: these policies or personal health concerns altered travel behavior during the first and the second waves of the pandemic. Transportation users’ reactions to the spread of COVID-19 vis-à-vis the government-imposed containment strategies hinged on the theory of interpersonal behavior and social practice theory, informing that the travel behavior cultured during the waves may become a practice as we advance. This paper investigated the extent of preferential modal shift and travel change during the waves of COVID-19 toward developing a travel behavior framework for a more holistic transportation policy for pre-, during, and post-pandemic periods. This COVID-induced urban mobility assessment sourced primary data from transportation users during Phase 2 of the COVID-19 intervention in southwestern Nigeria. The findings show that COVID-19 has a weak but positive relationship with transportation means change. A private vehicle use mode preference was evident, and daily travel patterns skewed towards the weekends. Most participants felt the state border restrictions every day of the week, and most of the transportation users who commuted were essential workers. At the same time, a medium-range positive association for COVID outings due to travel purpose and employment type informed that the unemployed dominated sports and leisure trip purposes, evidence of exigent travel. Dips in routine travel purposes, geographical extent, and modal choice imply unsustainable economic decisions and must be fore-stalled post-COVID. The paper recommends an evidence-based COVID-19 travel behavior policy framework for systemic, sustainable transportation