FLEXIBLE WORK HOURS AND MODE CHANGE: INTERPRETATION OF EMPIRICAL FINDINGS FROM SAN FRANCISCO

A series of surveys was conducted at four San Francisco Bay Area firms in 1979 to study the effect of flexible work hours on choice of mode for the work trip. Analysis of nearly 1200 individual responses showed consistent and statistically significant decreases in solo driving, even after mode changes that were estimated to be caused by 1979 gasoline shortfalls and skyrocketing energy prices were screened out. Individuals who changed to transit were found to be from generally lower-income households and thus susceptible to gasoline price increases; flextime further assisted their shift to transit by alleviating anxieties about being late for work due to unreliable transit service. These individuals frequently traveled during the off-peak hours, when seats were more readily available. Individuals who changed to ridesharing ranked congestion avoidance as high or higher than the ability to coordinate work schedules with fellow carpoolers (frequently a working spouse for employees at three downtown firms). Although there were diversions from ridesharing to transit, the net result was a statistically significant increase in ridesharing. The evidence from these four Bay Area firms strongly suggests that flextime is complementary to transit marketing and ridesharing promotions, although the next change in mode share is likely to be modest (less than 5 percent). (Author)

• Record URL:
  http://onlinepubs.trb.org/Onlinepubs/trr/1981/816/816-002.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://scholar.google.com/scholar_lookup?title=FLEXIBLE+WORK+HOURS+AND+MODE+CHANGE%3A+INTERPRETATION+OF+EMPIRICAL+FINDINGS+FROM+SAN+FRANCISCO&author=P.+Jovanis&publication_year=1981
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• Supplemental Notes:
  • Publication of this paper sponsored by Committee on Transportation Systems Management. Distribution, posting, or copying of this PDF is strictly prohibited without written permission of the Transportation Research Board of the National Academy of Sciences. Unless otherwise indicated, all materials in this PDF are copyrighted by the National Academy of Sciences. Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved
• Authors:
  • Jovanis, Paul P
• Conference:
  • 60th Annual Meeting of the Transportation Research Board
  • Location: Washington District of Columbia, United States
  • Date: 1981-1-12 to 1981-1-16
• Publication Date: 1981

Media Info

• Features: Figures; References; Tables;
• Pagination: p. 11-19
• Monograph Title: Transportation system management, parking, enforcement and other issues
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Record
  • Issue Number: 816
  • Publisher: Transportation Research Board
  • ISSN: 0361-1981

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Data collection; Flexible hours; Households; Income; Modal shift; Public transit; Ridesharing; Surveys; Travel patterns
• Geographic Terms: San Francisco (California)
• Subject Areas: Highways; Operations and Traffic Management; Planning and Forecasting; Public Transportation; Society; I73: Traffic Control;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00345944
• Record Type: Publication
• ISBN: 0309032571
• Files: TRIS, TRB
• Created Date: Feb 27 1982 12:00AM