Trends in leisure and shopping travel: From pre- to post-COVID-19 pandemic

The global COVID-19 pandemic of 2020–2022 precipitated a significant transformation in leisure and shopping travel patterns. This study leverages data from the Puget Sound Regional Travel Study conducted in 2017, 2019, and 2023 to investigate these changes. Utilizing rigorous statistical analyses, including conditional mixed-process modeling, our empirical results indicate that the share of trips made for leisure travel and in-store shopping increased in the post-pandemic era, while the vehicle miles traveled for leisure activities decreased. Individuals with telework arrangements exceeding six hours per day tended to make a higher proportion of their daily trips for leisure and shopping, yet they covered shorter distances by automobile for these activities. The surge in package delivery, stimulated by the pandemic, exhibited a complementary effect on in-store shopping travel but appeared to substitute some leisure activities. These findings provide valuable insights for policymakers aiming to adapt transportation infrastructure and public services to the evolving needs of the post-pandemic era.