Impacts of COVID-19 on individuals' mobility behavior in Pakistan based on self-reported responses

The COVID-19 pandemic has been extremely disturbing mobility behavior due to travel restrictions and perceived COVID-19 threats. Recently, researchers from developed countries have shown interest in quantifying the impacts of the COVID-19 on individuals' mobility; however, similar research themes in lower income developing countries like Pakistan have not been sufficiently explored. Therefore, the objectives of the study are; 1) to explore the changes in self-reported individual's mobility behavior-trip frequencies by mode and by purpose in three COVID-19 severity periods; 2) to quantify the effects of respondents' personal (i.e., age, gender, education, and living place), and perceived details (i.e., safety perceptions, the COVID-19 threat perceptions) on the change in mobility behavior in the COVID-19 severity change; 3) to analyze the willingness to use public transportation in the post-pandemic period.

A web-based questionnaire survey was conducted from September 2020 to November 2020, resulting in 565 responses. Descriptive analysis, random parameter bivariate probit modeling, and structural equation modeling are adopted to achieve the objectives.

The results reflect the change in individuals' mobility behavior in three severity periods of COVID-19, including before outbreak, during the most serious period, and after the most serious period. A substantial reduction in individuals' mobility was observed during the most serious period, which is recovering back to normal. The results also indicate the relationship of individuals' personal and perceived characteristics with the change in mobility in COVID-19 severity changes from before-to-serious and from the serious-to-after most serious period.

The COVID-19 pandemic has been affecting individuals' mobility behavior in Pakistan. The study's findings provide insightful information for the transportation agencies to better prepare for sustainable transportation management in the post-pandemic era.