Changing attitudes to daily commute due to the pandemic

Working from home, Public transport, Cycling, Car use and ownership. Changing attitudes towards travelling and the environment: a dynamic Q-methodology approach

Master thesis (2022)

Authors

J.R. Huisman Technology, Policy and Management

Contributors

M. Kroesen Transport and Logistics - TPM (supervisor 1)
C. van Daalen Policy Analysis - TPM (supervisor 2)
G.P. van Wee Transport and Logistics - TPM (supervisor 2)
Faculty
Technology, Policy and Management
Copyright: © 2022 Jeffrey Huisman
Public transport Cycling Q-methodology Attitude change Travel Behavior Walking Commute Work related travel Pandemic Working from home Car use
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Published Date

23-06-2022

Language

English

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Faculty

Technology, Policy and Management

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic had a strong impact on travel behaviour and Dutch societal perspectives on that travel behaviour. During 2020 and even the first half of 2021, the number of airplane passengers and train passengers saw a massive drop during the pandemic. The car, while definitely affected early in the pandemic, saw less of a drop and car traffic has almost returned to pre-pandemic levels. This, despite the rise of working from home that took place during the pandemic. As rush hour traffic jams appear to have returned full force and public transport use appears permanently negatively impacted, it becomes important to evaluate how public attitude towards the daily commute and car usage have changed during the pandemic to revaluate public policy goals. This change in societal perception of methods of daily commute, like car and public transport use or working from home, after the pandemic is evaluated using mixed-quantitative methods, including Q-methodology. The research results in different identified societal perspectives on commute, primarily representing changed attitudes of car users and multimodal cyclo-pedestrians, their attitude being structured primarily by their embrace or rejection of working from home. The research adapts attitudinal theory by van Wee, et al. (2019) and gives insight in the efficacy of implementing dynamism into Q-methodology. Future research will look into applying and adapting gained insights into Dutch societal perspectives on future transport policy and possible future dynamic Q-methodology studies regarding the topic of travel and attitude.