Transport-Telecommunications Substitution

Based on the findings of a study for the UK Government

Note: this is the first of a series of pages on this topic that are being provided to the ETO site by Management Technology Associates. Only this page is currently available, others will be added during July 1997. Some apparent references in the text below will not yet be found in the eto site pages.

Advocates of telework claim reduced transport demand and consequent reductions in energy use, pollution and other environmental impacts as valuable side effects of the adoption of teleworking (telecommuting). These pages are based on a study by Management Technology Associates for the UK Government (Department of Transport or DoT) which reported in 1994. Since our report there has been a noticeable change in the UK Government's policy stance, especially with respect to road transport.

Presented here are the following pages:

• This Introduction and Summary.
• Comments on the Focus and Limitations of the 1994 MTA study.
• The study's Key Findings.
• and our Recommendations to the UK Government.
• Comments regarding the motivation of teleworkers and employers that need to be considered in order to understand the potential for Transport-Telecommunications Substitution.

For the study we adopted a particular approach to categories of teleworkers.

Please note that comments in these pages include private judgements by MTA based on evidence from other studies outside the UK and further information gathered since the 1994 UK DoT Study.

What is Transport-Telecommunications Substitution (TTS)?

computers and communications are used to perform, without the use of transport, activities that would otherwise require travel by people or transport of goods.

• Using computer conferencing and video conferencing, instead of travelling to business meetings.

• Electronic (online) shopping to find and buy goods, as a substitute for visits to shopping centres.

• Electronic delivery of informational goods, instead of distributing such goods in physical form - for example "video on demand" services.

Overall then, TTS can be a by product of telework, teletrade, or any other application of open electronic networking (telecooperation).

This study focused on the potential impact of telework based TTS on transport demand in the UK, and in particular on telework and car commuting. In the UK as in most developed economies, there's rapidly growing agreement on the need to constrain pollution and other environmental impacts of our increasing dependence on cars. The study was the UK Government's first formal evaluation of the potential rôle that telework can play in reducing total car mileage.

Results of the Study

• Key Findings:
  • The average net reduction in car travel by commuters who became substantive* teleworkers was 113 miles per week.
  • A relatively few "long journey" car commuters account for a disproportionately high proportion of total car commuting - 14% of car commuters account for 50% of all car commuter travel.
  • "Long journey" car commuters have a higher than average tendency to become teleworkers.
  • Commuters who become teleworkers generate relatively little "substitute" local travel.

• Research Focus and Limitations: This was planned as an initial evaluation not a rigorous study. The sample size was small (100 teleworkers), and we cannot be certain that the travel patterns of this sample are representative of all teleworkers, though internal evidence and correlation with work elsewhere suggest that the results are realistic.

• Teleworker and Employer Motives:
  • Individuals who adopt telework on a voluntary basis have reduction in travel as an important motivating factor and "early adopters" appear to be highly conscious of the environmental as well as the personal benefits.
  • Employers who adopt telework and other TTS mechanisms such as video conferencing have reduction in travel as one among many factors, but their primary focus is on costs and productivity gains and "finding better ways to operate". Environmental benefit is seen as an attractive by-product but is not a primary concern.

• Recommendations:
  • TTS in general, telework-based TTS in particular, requires cross-Departmental attention by Government.
  • Further research (including longitudinal studies) is needed in order to validate the findings of this study to a level where significant policies could be based on rigorous data.
  • More work is needed to develop a robust "market model" for TTS.
  • TTS and environmental benefit should be emphasised in telework awareness and related campaigns.

This page contributed by Management Technology Associates.
Last updated 9 July 1997.