Suggested Citation:
Loa, Patrick, Yongsung Lee, Giovanni Circella (2026)

Examining Post-pandemic Ride-Hailing Use in California and Its Determinants

The prevalence and utilization of ride-hailing grew substantially in the 2010s; however, this growth was halted by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. In light of the disruptive impacts of the pandemic, it remains to be seen whether ride-hailing use in the post-pandemic period will be similar to that of the pre-pandemic period. Given the negative externalities associated with ride-hailing before the pandemic (including increases in vehicle miles traveled, induced travel, and the replacement of trips made using more sustainable modes), it is crucial to understand the potential long-term impacts of the pandemic on ride-hailing use. This study uses data from two waves of a repeated cross-sectional survey of California residents to examine ride-hailing use during the post-pandemic period and its determinants. Specifically, the data are used to compare pre- and post-pandemic ride-hailing use, estimate hurdle models of post-pandemic ride-hailing frequency, and estimate a zero-inflated negative binomial regression model of the frequency of post-pandemic shared ride-hailing use. The results suggest that the use of ride-hailing for commuting trips is more common post-pandemic than it was pre-pandemic. Moreover, commuting frequency was positively associated with how often ride-hailing was used for commuting trips. The results also indicate that the uptake of shared ride-hailing is relatively low during the post-pandemic period, suggesting that additional strategies (such as encouraging vehicle electrification) may be needed to help address the negative externalities associated with ride-hailing. Overall, this information can inform policies that aim to mitigate the negative externalities associated with ride-hailing in the post-pandemic era.