Moving towards a carless place of work

Abstract

This study investigates the opinion and perceived equity of hospital employees regarding sustainable travel modes for their commute, the (e-)bike and shared bike combined with public transport in specific. The objective of the research is to be able to advise the Academic Medical Center and Pon on whether the alternatives are deemed successful, what factors affect the take-up of the alternatives and what measures improve the adoption among the employees, involving internal communication strategies. The used method is the conduction of semi-structured interviews with hospital employees, which allow for in-depth conversations that generate insight into the individuals rationale and behavior. The results indicate that there are two distinguished employee groups: employees with irregular hours and employees with regular hours. The irregular hours constrain the employees from using public transport and make cycling perceived as less safe. The employees with regular hours experience no environmental constraints to cycle or to use public transport, when well connected. The proposed alternative to meet all employees' needs is P+R facilities around the city of the medical center, where they can park their car and cycle the last-mile to work. This reduces commute emissions, reduces parking actions at the work end, and increases employee health and satisfaction. The study additionally emphasizes the need for inclusive communication with a broader focus than solely online notice.