Riders Who Avoided Public Transit During COVID-19

Abstract

Problem, research strategy, and findings

Millions of North Americans stopped riding public transit in response to COVID-19. We treat this crisis as a natural experiment to illustrate the importance of public transit in riders’ abilities to access essential destinations. We measured the impacts of riders forgoing transit through a survey of transportation barriers completed by more than 4,000 transit riders in Toronto and Vancouver (Canada). We used Heckman selection models to predict six dimensions of transport disadvantage and transport-related social exclusions captured in our survey. We then complemented model results with an analysis of survey comments describing barriers that individuals faced. Lack of access to alternative modes is the strongest predictor of a former rider experiencing transport disadvantage, particularly neighborhood walkability and vehicle ownership. Groups at risk of transport disadvantage before COVID-19, particularly women and people in poorer health, were also more likely to report difficulties while avoiding public transit. Barriers described by respondents included former supports no longer offering rides, gendered household car use dynamics, and lack of culturally specific or specialized amenities within walking distance.

Takeaway for practice

Policymakers should plan for a level of redundancy in transportation systems that enables residents to access essential destinations when unexpected service losses occur. Designing communities that enable residents to walk to those essential destinations will help reduce the burdens faced by transit riders during crises that render transit unfeasible. At the same time, planners championing active travel as an alternative to transit during such crises also need to devise solutions for former transit riders for whom active travel is ill suited, for example, due to physical challenges with carrying groceries or needing to chaperone children.

Keywords:

• COVID-19
• public transit
• social exclusion
• transport equity
• transport justice

RESEARCH SUPPORT

This work was supported by the Ontario Research Fund, Canada Research Chair in Transportation and Health, and City of Vancouver.

SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIAL

Supplemental data for this article can be found on the publisher’s website.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Matthew Palm

MATTHEW PALM ([email protected]) is an assistant professor at Worcester State University.

Jeff Allen

JEFF ALLEN ([email protected]) is a PhD candidate in geography and planning at the University of Toronto.

Bochu Liu

BOCHU LIU ([email protected]) is a PhD candidate in geography and planning at the University of Toronto.

Yixue Zhang

YIXUE ZHANG ([email protected]) is a PhD student in geography and planning at the University of Toronto.

Michael Widener

MICHAEL WIDENER ([email protected]) is an associate professor of geography and planning and the Canada Research Chair in Transportation and Health at the University of Toronto St. George.

Steven Farber

STEVEN FARBER ([email protected]) is an associate professor of human geography at the University of Toronto Scarborough.