Emperical estimation of effects of flexible working on mobility and congestion in the Netherlands 2000-2016

The research findings reveal that working at home and shifting hours to avoid using cars during peak hours are the most important types of flexible working in the Netherlands and that they increased between 2000 and 2016. If there had not been flexible working, the number of car kilometres on working days in the Netherlands from 2000 to 2016 on all roads would have increased 2.6% more than the observed development. Total public transport kilometres would be 2% higher.

The hours of delay with all types of flexible working on national roads in the Netherlands from 2000 to 2016 increased by 42%, instead of 60% if there had not been flexible working (an impact 16 of 18% for flexible working). Working at home had the largest impact on congestion avoidance during the entire day. During peak hours, peak hour travel avoidance by car had the largest impact.

Approximately 0.1 hours of delay were reduced on national roads by working one day at home or by shifting hours from morning peak to off-peak one time. This reduction was approximately 0.2 during the afternoon peak.

Authors: Han van der Loop (KiM), Jasper Willigers (Significance) and Rinus Haaijer (MuConsult)

TRR published this article.

Paper: The impact of various forms of flexible working on mobility and congestion estimated empirically

The various types of flexible working aim to render working more effective, efficient and pleasant for the organisation and its workers. Mobility patterns and road congestion are impacted if flexible working leads to more time and location independency for working. Possibilities for flexible working are enhanced by information and communication technologies.

KiM distinguishes eight types of flexible working that impact mobility and road congestion:
 1. Working at home (instead of at other work addresses), excluding overtime (allways working from home was not considered as flexible working);
 2. Avoiding car travel during peak periods by working at home and/or at other work locations on the same day;
 3. Working at another company location;
 4. Working at a flex office;
 5. Shifting working hours at the regular working address (not working at home) to avoid car travel during peak periods;
 6. Shifting working hours to avoid travelling on public transport during peak periods;
 7. Avoiding car use for business trips;
 8. Working during the trip while travelling on public transport.

The research questions are:
 1. To what extent has flexible working developed in the Netherlands from 2000 to 2016?
 2. How has the development of flexible working impacted the development of mobility by car and public transport, and congestion on the main trunk network (or national roads; especially highways)?

Authors: Han van der Loop (KiM), Jasper Willigers (Significance) and Rinus Haaijer (MuConsult)

Original date of publication: 04-10-2017

This paper will be published in command of the Association for European Transport as chapter in the Book Autonomous Vehicles and Future Mobility, to be published by Elsevier in 2019.