Effect of City Size on Mode-Choice Behaviour: Before and After COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic significantly impacted how people travel, particularly in terms of the choices they make regarding transportation modes. While there is debate about the temporary nature of travel behaviour changes during COVID-19, it continues to be a topic of study in different geographical contexts. The disparities in travel options among cities of varying sizes may have had distinct impacts on travel patterns during COVID-19 restrictions and in the post-pandemic era. To analyse the argument, this paper compares the shift in mode choice behaviour for commuting before and after COVID-19. Two multinomial logit models were estimated to analyse work trips, utilising 344 observations from a Pan-India online survey conducted in the late 2021 and early 2022 period. The findings demonstrate the substantial influence of variables such as family size, gender, income, and education on individuals’ decision-making regarding their mode of transportation for work. The findings also indicate that the size of the city and the number of vehicles owned significantly influence the choice of commuting modes.