Structural change and spatial pattern of intentional travel groups: A case study of metro riders in Hong Kong

Authors

Mingzhi Zhou
Jiangping Zhou

Document Type

Journal Article

Publication Date

2023

Subject Area

place - asia, place - urban, technology - ticketing systems, technology - passenger information, mode - subway/metro, ridership - behaviour

Keywords

COVID-19, Metro, Group travel behaviors, Hong Kong

Abstract

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, face-to-face contacts decreased but still existed despite people's fear of virus infection and governments' social gathering restrictions. These interactions influenced virus transmission routes, if any and reflected people's essential social interactive demands in the city. In this article, we identified people who intentionally travel as groups (ITGs) to characterize social interactions before and amid COVID-19. To systematically understand ITGs' mobility patterns, an ITG structure was defined and measured in multiple dimensions, including composition, function, size, intensity, quality, and spatiotemporal distribution. Based on a longitudinal smartcard dataset in Hong Kong spanning the year of 2020, we operationalized the ITG structure in the local metro system and examined whether and to what degree the structure changed during the pandemic. We found that ITGs' activities fluctuated as the pandemic progressed and their changes differed across different ITG groups. The long-distance ITGs saw the most significant change. The spatial distribution of persistent ITG trips before and amid the pandemic became spatiotemporally more concentrated. Stations with similar ITG indices clustered in proximity, and features of station areas like residents' education level and quantity of commercial facilities could well predict stations' ITG indices. In other words, inequal distribution of essential facilities and opportunities could notably influence ITGs, social contacts, and socioeconomic benefits brought about by them amid COVID-19. The findings provide insights concerning both resilience management amid the crisis and the long-term planning of essential facilities and services that facilitate group-based outgoings and activities.

Rights

Permission to publish the abstract has been given by Elsevier, copyright remains with them.

Comments

Applied Geography Home Page:

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/01436228

Recommended Citation

Zhou, M., & Zhou, J. (2023). Structural change and spatial pattern of intentional travel groups: A case study of metro riders in Hong Kong. Applied Geography, Vol. 152, 102885.