Telework and Commuting and Non-Commuting Work-Related Travel

As a traffic demand management policy, telework has the potential to alleviate congestion and air pollution. Because of the COVID-2019, it receives lots of attention recently. However, the substitution-complementary disputation between telework and transportation has never been settled. This study investigates the relationships between telework and commuting, and telework and work-related travel, respectively, based on the 2012-2015 German panel survey data MOP. The outcome variables include two sets (1) one-way commuting distance/duration, weekly commuting days/trips/distance/duration; (2) one-way non-commuting work-related travel distance/duration, weekly work-related days/trips/distance/duration. Both Cluster robust regression for the pooled sample and random effect regression for panel sample have been applied to model commuting and work-related travel. Overall, 19.46% of participants are teleworkers, they have longer one-way commuting duration and distance than non-teleworkers. The random effect regressions indicate telework could reduce the weekly commuting days and trips. Furthermore, it also shows a significantly negative association with weekly commuting duration, implicating a substitution effect of telework on commuting travel. On the other hand, the results show that telework is positively associated with all work-related travel, indicative of the potential of a rebound effect. The results indicate that telework has different effects on commuting and work-related travel. Meanwhile, the COVID-19 might not only stimulate more individuals teleworking, but also change the impact of telework on work-related travel. Future research should pay more attention to work-related travel.

• Record URL:
  https://annualmeeting.mytrb.org/OnlineProgram/Details/15914
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AEP35 Standing Committee on Effects of Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) on Travel Choices.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  ,    
• Authors:
  • Zhang, Shihang
  • Shuai, Bin
  • Gao, Jie
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 100th Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC, United States
  • Date: 2021-1-5 to 2021-1-29
• Date: 2021

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: 17p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Commuting; Panel studies; Regression analysis; Telecommuting; Travel time; Trip length; Work trips
• Identifier Terms: German Mobility Panel
• Subject Areas: Highways; Planning and Forecasting;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01764088
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: TRBAM-21-01335
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Feb 4 2021 10:57AM