What are the impacts of teleworking on activity-travel behaviour? A text mining study

Abstract

This study aims to understand how teleworking reorganises activity-travel behaviour. While the link between teleworking and mobility was widely studied, most of the research focused on commuting practices by comparing teleworkers to non-teleworkers. However, the coping strategies of teleworkers and their household members (e.g. reorganisation of activities according to the days of the week, and associated travel behaviour) remain insufficiently studied. With a systemic approach to interpersonal relationships, and their activities in the different spheres of their lives (i.e. professional, family, social and personal), the Reinert method we used (top-down hierarchical clustering) confirms and develops our knowledge about the rebound effects of teleworking. Our findings confirm that the work/telework sphere has a structuring role in the daily activity schedule and is associated with other travel motives (e.g. shopping, leisure or other personal activities). Teleworking appears as an adjustment variable, as it offers more freedom, and facilitates the organisation and reconciliation of activities in the different spheres of daily life. Thus, teleworking transforms individuals’ choices, habits and patterns of activities and travel within the household.