Teleworking and private mobility: different effects depending on the type of daily activities

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A groundbreaking survey on perceptions of change

Given the lack of recent longitudinal data on post-pandemic mobility, the authors drew on an online questionnaire survey conducted in spring 2022 among 1,412 respondents, including 815 employees working from home. The questionnaire asked about perceptions of changes in the frequency of eight types of private travel (shopping, personal appointments, leisure activities, accompanying children, visiting relatives, weekend trips, etc.) and local mobility. Participants were asked to indicate whether, since they had started teleworking, they were making these trips ‘much less often’ or ‘much more often’.

 

A marked decline in utility travel

Among respondents who perceived a change in their shopping habits (in supermarkets, hypermarkets, small local shops [grocery stores, butchers, greengrocers, etc.], markets, farms or AMAPs), the majority reported a decline in frequency. This observation is independent of socio-demographic characteristics, but varies according to place of residence: city centre residents report visiting supermarkets less frequently, while those in the suburbs are reducing their visits to small shops. The decline could be explained by the growth of e-commerce or the reorganisation of domestic tasks, although the survey does not allow this to be confirmed.

 

A resurgence of personal and family activities

Conversely, travel for leisure, sports, cultural or community activities, personal appointments (doctor, hairdresser, etc.) or to accompany children (school, extracurricular activities, etc.) is on the rise for many teleworkers. This increase correlates with the number of days teleworked per week, the length of the commute, and socio-demographic factors: it is more pronounced among those under 45, parents of young children, women, and households without children for leisure activities.

Teleworking thus promotes a better work-life balance, particularly for parents and women, who are already more involved in accompanying mobility.

 

Contrasting effects on social ties and weekends

Contrary to what might be expected, visits to family or friends do not seem to have changed for the majority of respondents. However, those who telework five or more days a week more often report a decline. This could reflect the disappearance of certain professional social activities, such as after-work outings.

With regard to weekend getaways, no clear trend emerges, but generational effects do appear: teleworkers under the age of 45 go away more often, while older teleworkers tend to reduce their getaways.

 

A stronger territorial anchor

One of the most robust findings concerns local travel: the majority of respondents perceive an increase in mobility around their homes. This local intensification is reinforced by the frequency of teleworking, the initial length of commutes, and the presence of accessible facilities in the neighbourhood. Parents of young children and those under 45 are particularly affected.

The results suggest a reinvestment in local space, facilitated by being at home during the week and by better access to services during opening hours.

 

Towards a new geography of everyday life?

Analysis of the correlations between types of travel reveals complex dynamics: substitution between supermarkets and local shops, complementarity between travel for appointments, leisure and accompaniment, all associated with an increase in local mobility. Teleworking does not therefore eliminate mobility, but changes its form and geography, reorganising the rhythms and places of everyday life.

 

Implications for public policy

These results call for a rethinking of transport and development policies. The development of teleworking, if accompanied by a sufficient supply of local services and infrastructure for active modes of transport, can strengthen local centres and promote more sustainable mobility. But it also requires anticipating rebound effects, which vary according to profiles and territories.

 

Reference:

Aguiléra, A., Pigalle, E., & Belton-Chevallier, L. (2025). Exploring perceived changes in the frequency of private trips and local trips after telework adoption in France. Transportation Research Interdisciplinary Perspectives, 101478. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trip.2025.101478

Release date: October 2025