COVID-19 and the activity-travel behavior of low-income, chronically ill individuals in Atlanta, Georgia

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic drastically changed our day-to-day life and travel behavior, though there has been limited understanding of its impacts on disadvantaged, high risk populations. This study examines the travel behavior of low-income individuals with chronic medical conditions, namely, diabetes and hypertension, before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. Special attention is paid to grocery shopping and medical-related trips, two major types of activities these individuals perform that require transportation, especially their use of public transport for these activities. From a survey of 263 individuals in Atlanta, Georgia, the study suggests limited adjustments in travel behavior among low-income, chronically ill individuals during the pandemic. The frequency, length, and modal choice of the two types of essential trips (i.e., grocery shopping and medical-related trips) largely followed their pre-COVID behavior, and the use of public transport was not significantly affected by local levels of COVID transmission. Apart from pre-COVID modal choice, the most important factors affecting public transport use were access to private vehicles and transportation assistance programs.