Travel behavior change of public transport users during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence from Bangkok

The COVID-19 pandemic has radically altered how the world uses public transportation. Our study investigates the significant decrease in travel demand for public transport in Bangkok, Thailand due to the fear of contracting COVID-19, government public health measures aimed at mitigating risk, and remote and online behaviors adopted by the public. We examined the determinants of changes in travel frequency for all trip purposes among public transport users in Bangkok, Thailand during the COVID-19 pandemic using the within-between random effect model. These included online activities and behaviors, individual perceptions of COVID-19 risks, and sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors. Our findings revealed that demand for public transportation will likely return as COVID-19 becomes endemic and that work-from-home measures, remote learning, and food delivery services could substantially reduce individual travel demand. These hold important lessons for policymakers in balancing public health measures with the evolving supply and demand needs of Bangkok's transportation infrastructure.