Changing Travel Patterns of Women in the Netherlands

The Netherlands Institute for Transport Policy Analysis conducted a study to improve its understanding of the relationship between social developments, household composition, and women’s travel behavior, with special focus on the travel patterns and daily activities of women. Information was obtained by quantitative data analyses of existing data sources and in-depth interviews with experts. Multilevel analyses were conducted to identify the most important explanatory factors of travel behavior on the household level. This study analyzed not only women’s individual travel behavior, but also the travel behavior of women in different household types. Definitive results from this study will be available in May 2011. The study’s initial results reveal that the travel patterns of men and women are increasingly similar. Women are increasingly more mobile, they travel for longer periods, and they travel greater distances. Women have contributed substantially to the rise in mobility in recent years. Their increasing labor force market participation is a driving force behind the fact that women must now travel more often, and travel great distances, to their workplaces. Because of the increasing number of two-income households, various activities must more often be coordinated with another member of the household.