VIRTUAL: Livable Cities – New York
Abstract
Working from home (WFH) can be a strategy for reducing travel demand and promoting improved work-life balance and health outcomes. WFH may also enable traffic optimisation, reduce peak hour congestion, and air pollution thereby to achieve the objectives of liveable and sustainable cities.
Digital nomads, hybrid working and working remotely have gained its popularity during the pandemic and WFH is predicted to rise. However, evidence is inconclusive on how WFH is shaping travel practices, such as commuting, residential location choice and the uptake of sustainable mobility options. This study compared what is known about WFH and travel practices before, during and after COVID-19 and conceptualise the role that WFH is, or can, play in urban sustainability transitions. Methodologically, we utilise a systematic review (n=48) to address this. Conceptually, we draw on social practice theory to interpret and analyse the international evidence. While WFH reduced peak hour travel and commuting across the three periods, it has resulted in an increase in walking and cycling and decline in public transport (50%) during COVID-19. However, there is also evidence of a rebound effects with an increase in non-work activities and the overall persons-mile travel. Compared to the pandemic period, one way commuting distance among people who WFH is predicted to increase. Overall WFH pre, during and post COVID_19 has contributed to sustainable mobility with substantial difference between the various periods. A notable gap in the literature on WFH and travel practices is, however, the extent to which WFH was, or is, considered as a mode of commuting.
Tmnit H Halefom is a PhD student at Centerer for Urban Transition, Swinburn University of Technology in Melbourne-Australia. Halefom is an Architect and urban planner by background and her research focus is on transition to sustainable mobility options such as walking, cycling, and public transport. Halefom has completed her masters by research at the University of Queensland, Australia and Mekelle University Ethiopia. Halefom also held an academic position as a lecturer at Mekelle University in Ethiopia from December 2013-April 2019.
Associate Professor Magnus Moglia is a transdisciplinary researcher with a particular interest in the intersection of quantitative and qualitative methods. He was a staff member at the CSIRO from 2001 until 2020 where he was a lead player in CSIRO’s future of Australian cities program. His primary research interests are in exploring cities as social and technical systems, and thereby identifying and exploring the leverage points that could be shifted and enable systems change. Moglia, was a leader in a series of studies in the Low Carbon Living and others transitions to sustainable mobility and electrification of transport.
Associate Professor Christian (Andi) Nygaard is a social economists and Research Theme Leader for New Ways of Urban Living in the Centre for Urban Transition at Swinburn University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia. Andi is currently leading research projects funded by the Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute and the Community Housing Industry Association in Australia. He has previously led and participated in a number of research projects for local authorities in the South East of England, the ‘European Integration Fund’, ‘South East Strategic Partnership for Migration’ (UK), ‘Department of Communities and Local Government’ (UK); and provided policy advice on local economic development and migration to South East authorities (UK).
8:00 am - 9:30 am
Thursday 15th June, 2023