The influence of residential and work locations on commuting durations and distances

Abstract

This study examines the extent of which residential location and workplace location affect commuting duration and commuting distance. Moreover, by splitting to income groups social equity issues in commuting in connection to rising property values in Amsterdam come to the fore. The report employs data from the 2010, 2011, 2016 and 2017 OViN surveys to investigate changes over a time period of five years.

The findings from the spatial analysis, data analysis and regression models indicate that not low income households but instead middle income households more often live less central than high income households. Middle income commuters did not reduce their commuting duration and commuting distance by moving away from the city centre. Both increase when they reside less central. Low income commuters, however, did improve their commute and now commute shorter than middle and high income commuters. When working outside Amsterdam commuters who reside central in Amsterdam but not central outside Amsterdam experience the shortest commutes. People who reside not central outside Amsterdam experience shorter commuters than those who reside central outside Amsterdam.

Given the findings described in this report a new debate could arise in which not the worsening opportunities of low income households should be prioritised, but instead should give way to the worsening conditions of middle income households. Future research should focus on personal preferences of individual commuters. In this research the assumption was made that every respondent that lives in Amsterdam choses to do so. This assumption cannot be made for people living elsewhere, because they may not want to live in a dense urban area. By integrating the personal preferences of respondents the different groups can be better compared.