Propensity to Telecommute

Telecommuting is the substitution for work at the workplace with work at home or other locations close to home. The interest in telecommuting stems from its potential benefits in trip reduction, congestion mitigation, cost saving for office spaces, increased productivity, and better home–work balance. The factors that influence people's telecommuting behavior were explored by using data from the 1995 Nationwide Personal Transportation Survey and 2001 and 2009 National Household Travel Survey. A comprehensive analysis was undertaken, and the trends over several years were examined. The analysis advances the understanding of the characteristics of workers who telecommute according to detailed categories of telecommuting frequency. The findings are essential as a first step toward estimating and incorporating telecommuting in the travel demand forecasting process.