Research Article
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Exploring the traveler group-based ridership fluctuations before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic: A case study of rail transit system in Izmir, Türkiye

Year 2023, Volume: 4 Issue: 1, 1 - 8, 15.07.2023

Dila Guzel Oruç Altıntaşı

https://doi.org/10.53635/jit.1262737

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted life around the world. Situations such as the transition of schools to remote education, remote working, and people's fear of becoming infected have had a strong impact on public transport ridership. In this article, rail transit systems ridership data were utilized to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the travel behaviour of adults, students and elderly people for the city of Izmir, Türkiye. The rail transit system included one mass rapid transit (MRT) and two light rapid transit (LRT) lines. Due to operational differences of rail transit systems, the analyses were carried out for the ridership of each mode separately. Within the scope of the study, user-based descriptive statistics were determined, and ridership changes were investigated before, during and after the pandemic. The statistical significance in ridership fluctuations were evaluated via one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) test. The results showed that the pandemic had a negative impact on ridership on all lines and all groups of travelers. Student ridership increased with the opening of schools after pandemic, while travel behaviour of elderly groups after COVID-19 was almost same compared to pandemic duration.

Keywords

COVID-19 ridership public transportation rail transit ANOVA

Thanks

The authors thank İzmir Metropolitan Municipality for sharing the rail transit ridership data from their open data portal.

References

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  • De Vos, J. (2020). The effect of COVID-19 and subsequent social distancing on travel behavior. Transportation research interdisciplinary perspectives, 5, 100121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trip.2020.100121
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  • Dai, J., Liu, Z., & Li, R. (2021). Improving the subway attraction for the post-COVID-19 era: The role of fare-free public transport policy. Transport Policy, 103, 21-30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2021.01.007
  • Cho, S. H., & Park, H. C. (2021). Exploring the behaviour change of crowding impedance on public transit due to COVID-19 pandemic: before and after comparison. Transportation Letters, 13(5-6), 367-374. https://doi.org/10.1080/19427867.2021.1897937
  • Aparicio, J. T., Arsenio, E., & Henriques, R. (2021). Understanding the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on public transportation travel patterns in the City of Lisbon. Sustainability, 13(15), 8342. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13158342
  • Tiikkaja, H., & Viri, R. (2021). The effects of COVID-19 epidemic on public transport ridership and frequencies. A case study from Tampere, Finland. Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 10, 100348. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trip.2021.100348
  • Rasca, S., Markvica, K., & Ivanschitz, B. P. (2021). Impacts of COVID-19 and pandemic control measures on public transport ridership in European urban areas–The cases of Vienna, Innsbruck, Oslo, and Agder. Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 10, 100376. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trip.2021.100376
  • Tuydes-Yaman, H., Kaya, B., Karagumus, E., Dalkic-Melek, G., & Cottrill, C. D. (2023). The impact of Covid-19 pandemic on public transit use: Case study of Konya city. Transportation Research Procedia, 69, 480-487. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trpro.2023.02.198
  • Pozo, R. F., Wilby, M. R., Díaz, J. J. V., & González, A. B. R. (2022). Data-driven analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on Madrid's public transport during each phase of the pandemic. Cities, 127, 103723. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2022.103723
  • Teixeira, J. F., & Lopes, M. (2020). The link between bike sharing and subway use during the COVID-19 pandemic: The case-study of New York's Citi Bike. Transportation research interdisciplinary perspectives, 6, 100166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trip.2020.100166
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  • Molloy, J., Schatzmann, T., Schoeman, B., Tchervenkov, C., Hintermann, B., & Axhausen, K. W. (2021). Observed impacts of the Covid-19 first wave on travel behaviour in Switzerland based on a large GPS panel. Transport Policy, 104, 43-51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2021.01.009
  • Shang, S., Jia, W., Zhang, S., Su, B., Cheng, R., Li, Y., & Zhang, N. (2023). Changes on local travel behaviors under travel reduction-related interventions during COVID-19 pandemic: a case study in Hong Kong. City and Built Environment, 1(1), 5. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44213-023-00006-z
  • Ahangari, S., Chavis, C., & Jeihani, M. (2020). Public transit ridership analysis during the COVID-19 pandemic. MedRxiv, 2020-10. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.10.25.20219105
  • Konečný, V., Brídziková, M., & Senko, Š. (2021). Impact of covid-19 and anti-pandemic measures on the sustainability of demand in suburban bus transport. the case of the Slovak Republic. Sustainability, 13(9), 4967. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13094967
  • Wilbur, M., Ayman, A., Ouyang, A., Poon, V., Kabir, R., Vadali, A., Pugliese, P., Freudberg, D., Laszka, A., Dubey, A. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 on public transit accessibility and ridership. arXiv preprint arXiv. 2008.02413. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2008.02413
  • Lozzi, G., Rodrigues, M., Marcucci, E., Teoh, T., Gatta, V., & Pacelli, V. (2020). Covid-19 and urban mobility: Impacts and perspectives: Rapid-response briefing.
  • Hu, S., & Chen, P. (2021). Who left riding transit? Examining socioeconomic disparities in the impact of COVID-19 on ridership. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 90, 102654. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2020.102654
  • Sahraei, M. A., Kuşkapan, E., & Çodur, M. Y. (2021). Public transit usage and air quality index during the COVID-19 lockdown. Journal of environmental management, 286, 112166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112166
  • Ali Sahraei, M., Kuşkapan, E., & Yasin Çodur, M. (2021). Impact of Covid-19 on public transportation usage and ambient air quality in Turkey. Promet-Traffic&Transportation, 33(2), 179-191. https://doi.org/10.7307/ptt.v33i2.3704

Year 2023, Volume: 4 Issue: 1, 1 - 8, 15.07.2023

Dila Guzel Oruç Altıntaşı

https://doi.org/10.53635/jit.1262737

Abstract

References

  • Aloi, A., Alonso, B., Benavente, J., Cordera, R., Echániz, E., González, F., Ladisa, C., Lezama-Romanelli, R., López-Parra, Á., Mazzei, V., Perrucci, L., Prieto-Quintana, D., Rodríguez, A., & Sañudo, R. (2020). Effects of the COVID-19 Lockdown on Urban Mobility: Empirical Evidence from the City of Santander (Spain). Sustainability, 12(9), 3870. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12093870
  • Bucsky, P. (2020). Modal share changes due to COVID-19: The case of Budapest. Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 8, 100141. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trip.2020.100141
  • De Vos, J. (2020). The effect of COVID-19 and subsequent social distancing on travel behavior. Transportation research interdisciplinary perspectives, 5, 100121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trip.2020.100121
  • Dong, H., Ma, S., Jia, N., & Tian, J. (2021). Understanding public transport satisfaction in post COVID-19 pandemic. Transport Policy, 101, 81-88. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2020.12.004
  • Dai, J., Liu, Z., & Li, R. (2021). Improving the subway attraction for the post-COVID-19 era: The role of fare-free public transport policy. Transport Policy, 103, 21-30. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2021.01.007
  • Cho, S. H., & Park, H. C. (2021). Exploring the behaviour change of crowding impedance on public transit due to COVID-19 pandemic: before and after comparison. Transportation Letters, 13(5-6), 367-374. https://doi.org/10.1080/19427867.2021.1897937
  • Aparicio, J. T., Arsenio, E., & Henriques, R. (2021). Understanding the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on public transportation travel patterns in the City of Lisbon. Sustainability, 13(15), 8342. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13158342
  • Tiikkaja, H., & Viri, R. (2021). The effects of COVID-19 epidemic on public transport ridership and frequencies. A case study from Tampere, Finland. Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 10, 100348. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trip.2021.100348
  • Rasca, S., Markvica, K., & Ivanschitz, B. P. (2021). Impacts of COVID-19 and pandemic control measures on public transport ridership in European urban areas–The cases of Vienna, Innsbruck, Oslo, and Agder. Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 10, 100376. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trip.2021.100376
  • Tuydes-Yaman, H., Kaya, B., Karagumus, E., Dalkic-Melek, G., & Cottrill, C. D. (2023). The impact of Covid-19 pandemic on public transit use: Case study of Konya city. Transportation Research Procedia, 69, 480-487. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trpro.2023.02.198
  • Pozo, R. F., Wilby, M. R., Díaz, J. J. V., & González, A. B. R. (2022). Data-driven analysis of the impact of COVID-19 on Madrid's public transport during each phase of the pandemic. Cities, 127, 103723. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cities.2022.103723
  • Teixeira, J. F., & Lopes, M. (2020). The link between bike sharing and subway use during the COVID-19 pandemic: The case-study of New York's Citi Bike. Transportation research interdisciplinary perspectives, 6, 100166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trip.2020.100166
  • Park, J. (2020). Changes in subway ridership in response to COVID-19 in Seoul, South Korea: Implications for social distancing. Cureus, 12(4). https://doi.org/10.7759/cureus.7668
  • Downey, L., Fonzone, A., Fountas, G., & Semple, T. (2022). The impact of COVID-19 on future public transport use in Scotland. Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, 163, 338-352. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tra.2022.06.005
  • Jenelius, E., & Cebecauer, M. (2020). Impacts of COVID-19 on public transport ridership in Sweden: Analysis of ticket validations, sales and passenger counts. Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 8, 100242. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trip.2020.100242
  • Eisenmann, C., Nobis, C., Kolarova, V., Lenz, B., & Winkler, C. (2021). Transport mode use during the COVID-19 lockdown period in Germany: The car became more important, public transport lost ground. Transport policy, 103, 60-67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2021.01.012
  • Molloy, J., Schatzmann, T., Schoeman, B., Tchervenkov, C., Hintermann, B., & Axhausen, K. W. (2021). Observed impacts of the Covid-19 first wave on travel behaviour in Switzerland based on a large GPS panel. Transport Policy, 104, 43-51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tranpol.2021.01.009
  • Shang, S., Jia, W., Zhang, S., Su, B., Cheng, R., Li, Y., & Zhang, N. (2023). Changes on local travel behaviors under travel reduction-related interventions during COVID-19 pandemic: a case study in Hong Kong. City and Built Environment, 1(1), 5. https://doi.org/10.1007/s44213-023-00006-z
  • Ahangari, S., Chavis, C., & Jeihani, M. (2020). Public transit ridership analysis during the COVID-19 pandemic. MedRxiv, 2020-10. https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.10.25.20219105
  • Konečný, V., Brídziková, M., & Senko, Š. (2021). Impact of covid-19 and anti-pandemic measures on the sustainability of demand in suburban bus transport. the case of the Slovak Republic. Sustainability, 13(9), 4967. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13094967
  • Wilbur, M., Ayman, A., Ouyang, A., Poon, V., Kabir, R., Vadali, A., Pugliese, P., Freudberg, D., Laszka, A., Dubey, A. (2020). Impact of COVID-19 on public transit accessibility and ridership. arXiv preprint arXiv. 2008.02413. https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2008.02413
  • Lozzi, G., Rodrigues, M., Marcucci, E., Teoh, T., Gatta, V., & Pacelli, V. (2020). Covid-19 and urban mobility: Impacts and perspectives: Rapid-response briefing.
  • Hu, S., & Chen, P. (2021). Who left riding transit? Examining socioeconomic disparities in the impact of COVID-19 on ridership. Transportation Research Part D: Transport and Environment, 90, 102654. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trd.2020.102654
  • Sahraei, M. A., Kuşkapan, E., & Çodur, M. Y. (2021). Public transit usage and air quality index during the COVID-19 lockdown. Journal of environmental management, 286, 112166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.112166
  • Ali Sahraei, M., Kuşkapan, E., & Yasin Çodur, M. (2021). Impact of Covid-19 on public transportation usage and ambient air quality in Turkey. Promet-Traffic&Transportation, 33(2), 179-191. https://doi.org/10.7307/ptt.v33i2.3704
There are 25 citations in total.

Details

Primary Language English
Subjects Transportation Engineering
Journal Section Research Articles
Authors

Dila Guzel This is me 0009-0000-1506-1787

Oruç Altıntaşı 0000-0002-4217-1890

Publication Date July 15, 2023
Submission Date March 9, 2023
Acceptance Date May 30, 2023
Published in Issue Year 2023 Volume: 4 Issue: 1

Cite

APA Guzel, D., & Altıntaşı, O. (2023). Exploring the traveler group-based ridership fluctuations before, during and after the COVID-19 pandemic: A case study of rail transit system in Izmir, Türkiye. Journal of Innovative Transportation, 4(1), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.53635/jit.1262737
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