Impact of COVID-19 on Residential Self-selection and Travel Behavior Change

Abstract

Resident location choices have been influenced by the mass transit network, such as in Bangkok, where residential areas have expanded along with the mass transit network. This trend might be changed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This research investigates the change of travel behavior, reflecting the residential self-selection based on an assumption of travel attitude and resident attitude during the pandemic. Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) was utilized to confirm the relationship between travel behavior and other indicators. Hypothesis testing of the model was examined that the travel behavior had a strong relationship with mode choice and number of transfers. Travel attitude and resident attitude was a very strong relationship with each other. Furthermore, the resident attitude had influenced accessibility strongly in both cases. However, before the pandemic, neighborhoods were important for residential self-selection. In contrast, during the pandemic safety was more concerned.