We often cycle to work, but the car remains popular

During the Corona crisis, many suddenly had to work from home. Since there are no longer any restrictions in the Netherlands, this is also reflected in the number of trips we make (by car). This is according to the National Travellers’ Survey published by the Department of Infrastructure and Water Management.

Although we go to work more, work from home will remain. On average, the Dutch worked 1.1 days a week at home last year. During the Corona crisis in 2021 it was 1.4 days and before Corona it was 0.8 days.

We go to work more often

We therefore often drive to work by car, but drive relatively less to work than we used to. The total number of trips to the commute by bike, car and public transport has increased by 7.5 million times a week compared to 2021. The number of car journeys increased “only” by 14 percent. The number of trips to work by bike rose by 17 percent and public transport by almost 30 percent. These percentages are the result of lifting the corona measures, as the research shows. The bicycle is used for four out of ten commuter journeys of a maximum of 7.5 kilometers. That is more than in the years before Corona.

Cycling can help reduce congestion. Nevertheless, the congestion problem in the Netherlands is huge. Traffic on the motorways was only 1 percent less than before Corona. The dynamic pressure (delay times the length of the jam) has decreased significantly. That was 20 percent less in 2022 than in 2019.

The car remains a favorite for many

The study shows that the car is still the preferred choice for many people. This is mainly due to the fact that they do not want or cannot use alternative means of transport such as bicycles or public transport. A car is then the only option