Alternate Commute Studies

Employer and Employee Alternate Commute Studies
How do traffic congestion, transit service, air quality, gasoline prices, and parking affect how people get to work? Do people know about and use options such as rideshare, transit, flextime, or telecommuting?

These are the kinds of questions asked over the last two years as part of two studies conducted by the Baltimore Metropolitan Council. Over 500 employers and 631 employees participated in the studies, which sought to document the availability of, and interest (or disinterest) in alternate commute options among employers and employees in the Baltimore region.

The alternate commute options documented in this study included ridesharing, transit, flextime, telecommuting, emergency ride home, and other commute options.

The results?Both studies strongly suggest that perceptions of congestion and knowledge of sources of alternate commute information strongly influence interest in alternate commute options. In addition, both studies documented that the availability of, and interest in, different alternate commute options varied considerably based on employer size and geographic location of workplaces.

What’s next? A combined analysis of the findings of the 2004 and 2005 studies is now underway. The goal of this analysis is to identify the similarities and differences in attitude and behavior among both groups.

Based on these findings, recommendations will be made to the Baltimore Regional Transportation Board on ways to encourage more employers to provide alternate commute options for their employees, and to increase employee use of alternate commute options.

Information will also be used to improve public education efforts aimed at changing commuter behavior and improving air quality.

For more information:
Russ Ulrich, rulrich@baltometro.org or 410-732-9575.


Links within this web site:

2005 Regional Employee Alternate Commute Survey (pdf: 163 kb)- Reports on a survey designed to determine the awareness and attitudes of employees in the region about alternate commute options. It is a companion to the Report on 2004 Regional Employer Alternate Commute Study (pdf).

Report on 2004 Regional Employer Alternate Commute Study (pdf: 542 kb)- Results of a survey of Baltimore region employers on their familiarity with and use of commuter assistance options such as flexible work hours, telecommuting, transit subsidies and others (pdf).


Links to other web sites:

Last Updated: 12/30/2008