Exploring the Implications Travel Behavior During COVID-19 for Transit: Potential for Ridesharing and Carsharing

The COVID-19 epidemic has had unprecedented impacts on travel patterns in the US. This study evaluates changes to travel after shelter in place mandates. It finds that despite a potential reduction in gross vehicle miles travel, travel for secondary trips for recreation, shopping and errands may have increased. 26% of travelers may take trips that they otherwise would not have taken when working from home—many conducted via driving or carpooling and some via transit. This offers policy opportunities to consider how these trips can be captured in more sustainable modes than driving alone, and how transit might evolve after the pandemic to meet these travel needs.