Trip Disparity among the Elderly in Seoul during the COVID-19 Pandemic (Differences in Destination Diversification according to Socioeconomic and Spatial Factors)
Topics: Transportation Geography
, Urban Geography
, Quantitative Methods
Keywords: COVID-19, travel of the elderly, travel disparity, destination choice, urban spatial structure
Session Type: Virtual Paper Abstract
Day: Monday
Session Start / End Time: 2/28/2022 08:00 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada)) - 2/28/2022 09:20 AM (Eastern Time (US & Canada))
Room: Virtual 42
Authors:
Jaegeon Lee, Seoul National University
Jungyul Sohn, Professor, Seoul National University
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Abstract
By defining a travel disparity based on the degree to which travelers diversify their destinations, this paper examines how socioeconomic and spatial factors affect the travel disparity among the elderly in Seoul. This paper uses the COVID-19 pandemic as a natural experiment which can bring about different behavioral responses among the older travelers. Using the smart card data, we compare the destination diversification patterns before and after the pandemic. In the early morning (4: 30-9: 00), the degree of destination diversification varies between the core and the periphery and this trend persists through the pandemic. In the late morning (9: 00-12: 00), a new trend of disparity appeared after the pandemic. Although those who hold higher socioeconomic status and live closer to the core have a larger range of choices for destinations, the difference of range did not lead to differences in diversification before the pandemic, due to the discretionary nature of the elderly's trip. In contrast, as the elderly were forced to search alternative destinations right after the outbreak of the pandemic, the range of choices became an important factor causing observable differences in destination diversification. The findings suggest that the travel disparity observed during the pandemic is due to the difference in the range of choices by socioeconomic and spatial factors.
Trip Disparity among the Elderly in Seoul during the COVID-19 Pandemic (Differences in Destination Diversification according to Socioeconomic and Spatial Factors)
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Virtual Paper Abstract
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