Did COVID-19 cancel the commute?
HERE Technologies recently revealed that commuting preferences differ between generations. Relinquishing their newfound flexibility, Generation Zs are keen to return to the workplace, while millennials dread the daily back and forth.
The research study conducted by HERE included 1200 Australian and Kiwi commuters. According to the report, 43% of Australians between the ages of 18 and 24 once loathed their commute but have since changed their minds due to the pandemic.
In contrast, 39% of Australians aged 35 to 44 are done with long commutes, no longer accepting wasted travel time as a normal part of their workweek.
What will people do to avoid commuting? Some, 29%, say they would go as far as to change jobs while others, 50%, said they would reduce the number of days in the office to cut down on work-travel time.
The behavior change initiated by the pandemic is driven by the desire for more work-life balance: Two-thirds of millennials said they want to cut their commute to spend more time with family and friends, while just over half of Gen Z workers said they would use their saved commuting time catching up on sleep.
Making the concept of the 15-minute city even more compelling, HERE's research revealed that two of every five people surveyed now want a commute of under twenty minutes, compared to a third of pre-pandemic workers.
In the long term, the concept of a 15-minute city will require a radical rethink of how cities are designed and built, ensuring that all of the different spaces that make up everyday life are within the radius of a 15-minute walk. In the meantime, location intelligence services can play an important role in reducing congestion, improving traffic thoroughfare, and optimizing public transit schedules.
HERE also found that it's the commuters who regularly use public transit to get to work — 31% of all commuters — who are facing the biggest decisions; 29% are seeking shorter bus, train, tram and ferry rides, while 25% of drivers are rethinking their travel options.
I'm excited to get back to the office, not only to form connections with my colleagues but to differentiate my work and home environment. It can be difficult to switch off and commit to no screen-time when you hear a string of notifications from your bedroom. I'm looking forward to the extra downtime the commute will provide as a no laptop, no work zone.
Location intelligence services can play an important role in reducing congestion, improving traffic thoroughfare, and optimizing public transit schedules.