Promoting commute active modes during the Covid-19 pandemic. What is the role of multimodal travel mode choices?

Abstract

This study aims at studying the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on university commute mode choices and identifying the drivers to change usual transport means to reach college destinations. The data were collected by the Italian Network of Universities for Sustainable Development in 2020. Respondents were asked about their own propensity to switch to active commuting avoiding any other multimodal motorized modes and considering two alternative scenarios (optimistic or pessimistic) concerning the potential risk of contagion. After having identified four latent factors (related to, monetary incentives to bike commuting and psychological aspects of pro-ecological attitudes are detected), the result of a logit model suggested rather straightforward policy drivers, i.e., investing into the quality and safety of routes for walking/cycling, incentives for cycling, and the creation of an eco-friendly environment, where university users feel part of a greener community.