Abstract

During the COVID-19 pandemic, daily travel per person declined significantly in the U.S as activities that required leaving home were increasingly replaced by information and communication technologies (ICTs), such as smartphones, personal computers, streaming services, and social media. Trips for most purposes declined drastically in the spring of 2020 at the start of the pandemic, and public transit use in particular plummeted. With most of the disruptions of the pandemic over by early 2022, this research study investigated whether the travel effects of COVID-19 have persisted, especially among young adults (defined as those between the ages 15-29).

The research focused on youth, as any long-term shifts in their travel behavior might persist for decades. These younger travelers are transitioning to adulthood by obtaining drivers’ licenses, joining the workforce, living independently, and so on. Youth travel may be affected differently by the pandemic than older adults as they are more likely to substitute ICTs for travel, so the study examined how youth travel patterns and trends compare to those of middle-aged adults post-pandemic.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated an ongoing trend of Americans spending more time at home and less time engaged in activities away from home. This shift in travel behavior has significant implications for cities, transportation systems, economics, and even mental health. To better understand this trend, this research project examined how people in the U.S. spend their time pre-pandemic, mid-pandemic, and post-pandemic using data from the American Time Use Survey, with a focus on work, leisure, and travel behavior.