The commuting behavior and perception correlates of commuting trips: a comparative study on the Egyptian and migrant populations in Cairo and Alexandria

Abstract

Recent political conflicts in the Middle East have led to a significant increase in refugees' numbers in Egypt, causing a substantial population increase in neighborhoods like Al-Rehab City and the 6th of October. The resulting semi-hybrid communities have had a notable impact on travel behavior in these areas. Due to the economic impact that is affected by this travel behavior, this study aims to investigate the commuting behaviors and preferences of individuals in Cairo and Alexandria, focusing on demographic groups such as Egyptians and migrants. The research addresses two main questions: (1) What significant variations exist in commuting characteristics between Egyptians and migrants based on their social and cultural backgrounds, and what variables influence the travel behavior of these two groups? (2) What factors relate to public transport use, that map all aspects of work/home trip choices that affect the daily commuting distances? Initially, to find the significant differences between both test groups, a questionnaire was designed and distributed through a sample of 1,810 face-to-face interviews (1,193 in Cairo and 617 in Alexandria). The questionnaire comprised 39 questions, these questions are covered in six sections that cover the following aspects: sociodemographic and household profiles, mobility habits, commuting habits and preferences, perceptions of public transportation, ridesharing, and housing. In the data analysis stage, a non-parametric statistical test "The Mann-Whitney U test" is used to determine if there is a difference between both groups according to certain variables. To examine the relationship between subjective public transport utilization and commuting trip generation, a multivariate Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) model was applied. The model application provides valuable insights for the formulation of impactful urban and mobility systems. Drawing a road map to help policymakers in enhancing public transport infrastructure to better match the preferences of commuters, ultimately fostering safer and more gratifying travel experiences.