No way back? A survey on changes in travel demand post-pandemic in Norway

Research shows a significant reduction in travel demand during the pandemic. Vaccines are currently distributed, allowing us to go back to pre-COVID-19 life, if that is the case. This study provides insight into changes in activities and travel demand during the pandemic and expected changes after the pandemic. Our paper presents the findings from a Likert scale survey (n = 360) conducted in Norway June–July 2021. We investigate how relocated activities impacted travel behaviour during the pandemic, and prospects of lasting impacts of the pandemic. The results show that the prevalence of home office and digital meetings, the new normal for many people during the pandemic, will continue to some degree after the pandemic. There is an increased willingness to commute by active modes, while no pronounced increase in car commutes is reported. However, car use is expected to increase for leisure trips; a significant correlation with the demand of more domestic outdoor travel. One out of five states that they will use public transport less often in the future. We may expect more online shopping, although home-deliveries for groceries is not as popular as for non-edible goods—not during the pandemic nor after. Earlier disruptive events have shown that people tend to adjust back to normal after a while, even if they have stated otherwise. There are certain mid-pandemic habits that go along with political goals and/or employers’ interests, implying these might be prolonged into the future.