Catching Cab - An Act of Fear or Compulsion? Empirical Study based on Online APP Cabs in India during COVID-19 Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic brought about a significant transformation in our daily commute from public transport to either personal transport or private cabs. The economic status of commuters determines whether switching from public to private mode of transport is a feasible option. This study explores the reasons behind the surge in online cab fares. The two probable reasons are the COVID-19 pandemic and public transport shortage. Additionally, the effects of weekends, dual shifts and infrastructure blockage were controlled. The results indicate that the surge in cab fares is driven by the inadequate public transport in relation to the number of commuters. The dual shifts of jobs are effective in transferring transport demand from peak to slack period. However, infrastructure blockage diminishes the effectiveness of dual shifts of jobs in transferring transport demands. The findings add to the existing literature by emphasizing the relevance of public transport for the lower income category in developing countries. Keywords: social distancing, technology, COVID-19, transport, online cab service, dual shifts