Commuting in knowledge intensive organizations: An outline of six different practices

Abstract

This article investigates car-based commuting habits among employees in four knowledge intensive organizations (KIOs) in the greater Oslo region in Norway. This region has experienced a growth in KIOs and knowledge workers over the last few decades and, like many other European urban regions, it struggles with high levels of car-based commuting. This article suggests designing policy measures based on a deeper understanding of the various ways that commuting is performed. Based on inductive statistical methods, groups with different sets of commuting practices are defined, which is used to create commuting profiles across and within the enterprises. The six key commuting practices suggests that targeted policy-mixes should be applied to support shifts toward more sustainable commutes.

Keywords:

• Commuting
• knowledge work
• segmentation
• mobility
• urban development
• social practice

Notes

1 The survey included students, but they are excluded from the data analysed here.