THE INFLUENCE OF THE COMBINATION OF EMPLOYMENT AND CHILD CARE ON TRANSPORT NEEDS

In order to better understand the variations in transport needs between different segments of the population, the Netherlands ministry of transport is at present undertaking a number of studies directed towards people who live in specific situations. In this framework, the influence of household structure is a priority subject. In the Netherlands the participation of married women in professional work has been traditionally low, but is now rapidly growing. Also, the number of single adult households, where one parent, mostly a woman, has to combine professional employment with the responsibility for children, is augmenting fast. Traditional studies however, make in general distinctions between employed and unemployed population only, but do not take account of sex or presence of children in the household. It is an advantage, that the Dutch study can take place as part of a comparative study made possible by the German Marshall fund and covering France, the Netherlands, and the United States. The study is intended to meet the following objectives: (1) to understand how transportation patterns and needs differ as household and family characteristics differ; (2) to use such information to make accurate predictions of future travel patterns; (3) to understand if current transportation resources are adequate to allow households to carry out their necessary activities; and (4) to determine if transportation services and facilities could be made more responsive to the needs of all Dutch families, but particularly the growing number with children and two adult workers. The paper describes the theoretical and empirical backgrounds of the study, focusing on how an understanding of the activity patterns of households in different situations can make a significant contribution to transportation policy and planning. The paper explains how those differences are relevant for Dutch and other governmental policymakers and planners, and are being used as a factor to estimate tendencies in the development of passenger transport. It will conclude by describing how the Dutch study was structured to give new insights in this area and to build the growing body of international research in this area. (Author/TRRL)

  • Availability:
  • Supplemental Notes:
    • Transport Policy, Proceedings of Seminar M held at the PTRC 11th Summer Annual Meeting, University of Sussex.
  • Corporate Authors:

    PTRC Education and Research Services Limited

    110 Strand
    London WC2,   England 
  • Authors:
    • RUEHL, A
    • Rosenbloom, S
    • Kremer-nass, J
  • Conference:
  • Publication Date: 1983

Media Info

  • Features: References; Tables;
  • Pagination: p. 151-158

Subject/Index Terms

Filing Info

  • Accession Number: 00381605
  • Record Type: Publication
  • Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
  • ISBN: 0-86050-112-4
  • Report/Paper Numbers: Volume P240
  • Files: ITRD, TRIS
  • Created Date: Mar 30 1984 12:00AM