On the effectiveness of employer transport plans : which mobility measures influence the commuting choices of employees?
(2014)
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- This dissertation interests in employer transport plans. It was instigated in the framework of a research project financed by the Belgian science policy, the ADICCT project (Witlox et al., 2011). It consists of the part of the project that exclusively focuses on transport plans, as a strict company point of view is adopted. In this way, it complements the other area of research studied in the project, i.e. the explanation of differences in modal splits at workplaces (Vanoutrive, 2010). The following research questions are addressed: are ETP effective? If so, which mobility measures they can embed influence the commuting choices of employees? Four chapters, based on published or at least submitted papers, contribute in answering both questions and at filling some research gaps of the literature. The following topics are addressed: the practices of companies as regards the promotion of alternative modes of transport, the commuting behaviours of employees, the effectiveness of mobility measures, the identification of obtained modal shifts, and the profession of mobility managers and their impact on commuting. It emerges that that there is clearly a of lack reflection on employer transport plans within companies, which hampers their effectiveness. The appointment of an effective (and involved) mobility manager overcomes this problem. As regard the promotion of alternative modes of transport, it is shown that carpooling is more difficult to promote within companies than other modes. Its use is mainly explained by personal characteristics of employees while cycling and public transport use are mainly explained by background conditions at workplace. Hence, companies have less action levers to promote carpooling. In addition, the use of carpooling is more volatile, reducing thus the effects of such strategies in the long term. Employer transport plans are effective. A list of mobility measures that help to successfully implement them is found. These mobility measures (and a fortiori the employer transport plans that include them) produce continuous effects. They do not only help to convince sole car users to change their modal habits, but they also have an impact on the users of other alternative modes of transport. In the same way, some measures have indirect effects, increasing the use of alternative modes they do not promote. Their effects have therefore to be assessed on all the available modes. It can be concluded that no general ETP design can be proposed, as appropriate measures must be taken at the appropriate workplace. This is the rule in matter of effective employer transport plans.
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Van Malderen, L. (2014). On the effectiveness of employer transport plans : which mobility measures influence the commuting choices of employees? https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/191251