How have ride-sourcing users adapted to the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic? evidence from a survey-based study of the Greater Toronto Area

ABSTRACT

The COVID-19 pandemic has altered day-to-day life worldwide, including the perceived risks associated with travel. Ride-sourcing can augment the mobility of those without access to private vehicles and who are reluctant to use public transit. Using data from a web-based survey, this study investigates the influence of the first wave of the pandemic on ride-sourcing use in the Greater Toronto Area. Among pre-pandemic ride-sourcing users, 18% use ride-sourcing more frequently during the pandemic, while 54% are using it less frequently. From the econometric model, the most notable finding is that several attributes that influenced ride-sourcing frequency pre-pandemic did not affect ride-sourcing frequency during the pandemic. Attitudinal factors were also found to influence ride-sourcing frequency. The results suggest that the pandemic has had a short-term effect on the frequency of ride-sourcing usage; however, further research is required to determine whether COVID-19 will have long-term impacts on ride-sourcing usage.

KEYWORDS:

• COVID-19
• pandemic
• ride-sourcing
• transportation network company
• attitudes
• perception of risk

Acknowledgments

This study was funded through an NSERC discovery grant and the Percy Edward Hart professorship fund.

Disclosure statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest to report.