Reactions to University Campus Commute Mode Shifts During COVID-19

Abstract

This study summarizes University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (UWM) campus commute mode shifts during COVID-19. The greatest shifts were to telecommuting and away from public transit. These shifts were uneven across the campus population: respondents with lower incomes and lower automobile access were less likely to shift to telecommuting. Open-ended responses provide insights into commuters’ reactions to their mode shifts: most new telecommuters enjoyed not having to travel to work, and concern about COVID-19 transmission was only one of several factors pushing commuters away from public transit.