Impact of COVID-19 on Public Transportation Mode Choice and Travel Decisions by Ghanaians

Maxwell Selase, Akple · 2023 · Crossref

DOI: 10.48295/et.2023.92.8

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Summary

This study investigates the influence of the COVID-19 pandemic on public transportation mode choice and travel decisions among Ghanaians. Motivated by the pandemic’s disruption of global transportation sectors and specific government restrictions in Ghana, such as partial lockdowns and social distancing mandates, the research aims to assess how these events altered commuter behavior and perceptions of safety. The authors sought to determine whether the shift away from public transit was driven by health concerns and how demographic factors influenced these changes. The researchers employed a mixed-methods approach, collecting data from 2,030 participants across all 16 regions of Ghana via online surveys and face-to-face interviews. The structured questionnaire gathered demographic information, opinions on transportation safety factors, and assessments of the pandemic’s impact on social activities and travel decisions. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics using SPSS and an ordered logit model using STATA to estimate the probability of "minor," "no," or "major" impacts on social activities and transportation choices. The model incorporated independent variables such as age, gender, education, income, employment status, and transport type. Key findings indicate a significant modal shift from public transportation to private vehicles during the pandemic. While 67.6% of participants typically used public transport pre-pandemic, this dropped to 44.8% during the outbreak, whereas private car usage rose from 29.7% to 37.4%, and hired private taxis increased from 0.1% to 13.3%. Facemask usage was ranked as the most critical safety factor influencing mode choice. The ordered logit model revealed that the pandemic had a 17.7% minor impact on transportation mode choice overall. Demographic characteristics significantly influenced these decisions, with private car usage being 20.7% more likely to be influenced by demographics than public transport choice. Furthermore, the pandemic disproportionately affected the social activities of youths aged 30–39, who were more likely to experience major impacts compared to those aged 60 and above. Attendance at funerals and visits to friends were the most impacted social activities. The study concludes that the COVID-19 pandemic significantly altered travel behaviors in Ghana, driven by health prioritization and fear of infection in confined public spaces. The shift toward private transportation highlights the vulnerability of public transit systems during health crises. However, the authors anticipate that these changes may be temporary, expecting a return to normal life activities and travel patterns once the pandemic is declared over. The findings provide insight into the resilience of transportation modes and the role of demographic factors in adapting to public health emergencies.

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