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Flexible work
using modern information and communication technologies can
reduce the need to travel - or can it?
Properly implemented, we believe it can.
But it's a complex issue, as travel behaviours, working
practices and locational decisions
move into new territory which can also generate new trips.
And, of course, it's an issue with very
wide implications beyond the workplace. The potential benefits
(or otherwise) are great for society and for the
environment.
What's involved
The following types of ICT-based
activity all have potentially a travel-reducing effect:
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Remote working by employees -
"teleworking". This may be from other company
sites, on the road (e.g. from variable locations between
visits to clients or sites), or from home
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Collaborative working with
partners, contractors and suppliers over electronic networks
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Electronic service delivery
(ESD) and electronic commerce (ecommerce) - delivering
services and products to customers electronically.
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Remote monitoring and remote
diagnostics
All these activities have the
potential to reduce the amount of travel undertaken by people in
the course of their employment, bringing cost savings to both
organisations and individuals, and having the potential for
spin-off environmental benefits.
The Flexibility approach
Flexibility feels the
possibilities for ICT contributing to the transport agenda are
significant and exciting.
However, we like to think we have
our feet on the ground about this. As the research survey What
We Know and What We Don't outlines, there are many areas
where the jury is still out on the global effects of ICT on our
travel behaviour. But that it is having, and will have,
substantial effects is already clear.
So we will continue to report on
new studies and new thinking in this area. If it's an area in
which you are working, then do let us know - we'd like to write
it up. |
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Travel
Substitution resources |
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Transport for London says:
"Don't travel!"
Transport for London and Work Wise UK have produced a
Smarter Working Guide to encourage London businesses to
reduce travel through flexible working
Businesses look to technology
to help reduce travel
The report Business Travel: Choice or
Necessity from the RAC Foundation provides important
insights into the under-researched area of business travel.
Get out of your
cars, says RAC
The RAC Foundation and the Telework Association have teamed up to
launch a campaign promoting the jam-busting cost-saving
eco-friendly life-enhancing merits of teleworking. Includes some
figures to make you think, and some memorable bumper-sticker
suggestions. Time,
mobility and economic growth
An analytical article exploring the historic and future
connections between mobility and economic growth. In a
nutshell, the further we can travel, the greater our
prosperity. But what impact will “virtual mobility” have,
and how is it changing the equation?
Virtual mobility and its
impact on travel
Does working online reduce the need to travel? What about
ecommerce - does it increase or reduce travel and freight
movements? We report the findings of a new study, as the
DTLR starts to get its teeth into the issues. The
networks that do not work
A response to the UK's crumbling travel infrastructure
(Green)
Travel Plans
What they're for, and where Flexible Working comes in
Travel
substitution: what we know and what we don't
An overview of recent research on whether remote working
can reduce traffic
Telecommuting
for Dublin
Report on a study into telework/trip reduction in the
Dublin area
Telecommuting
2000
The revised version of the study outlining how business
and government should approach transport substitution
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