Remote working and sustainable commuting across socio-spatial contexts: Interactions of distance, time and workplace accessibility

Abstract

This study examines how remote working influences commuting across socio-spatial contexts, focusing on its interaction with commuting distance, travel time and the use of sustainable transport modes. Using a case study of business parks across North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, the study draws on an analytical sample of 2289 employees from 70 companies, who participated in a standardized mobility survey conducted between August 2023 and December 2024. The survey includes objective and subjective factors related to residential settings and workplace accessibility. A nested logistic regression model with interaction effects was applied to assess the impact of remote working on mode choice. The results reveal that longer commuting distances reduce the likelihood of using sustainable transport modes. The interaction between remote working and commuting distance reverses this pattern: frequent remote workers with shorter commutes are less likely to choose sustainable modes, whereas those with longer commutes are more likely to do so. These findings suggest that the effects of remote working on commuting behaviour depend on commute length and the opportunities to combine work and travel more efficiently. Residential settings show no clear influence on the use of sustainable transport modes. Overall, this study highlights the importance of understanding how remote working reshapes the relationship between working conditions and mobility to support the transition towards sustainable transport.