The study by DTV Consultants shows what everyone really already knew: the accessibility of Wageningen and the campus is not great. Wageningen UR, the municipality and the province of Gelderland are currently making plans to improve that accessibility. According to DTV, bicycles as an alternative can make the difference.
At present, half of all employees cycle to work, slightly fewer than in the previous survey four years ago. DTV recommends starting a new campaign to encourage cycling. A bigger travel expenses allowance for cyclists could be part of that approach, as well as Park&Bike facilities at the A12 exit in Ede.
Joke Luttik, head of the Safety & Environmental Services department at Facilities and Services, says she does not yet know what the follow-up will be to the survey. ‘You have to look hard at what makes people change their behaviour.’ She points to an ongoing study at Alterra on how you can persuade people to abandon their cars and get on their bikes.
In addition to more cycling, flexible working hours are a promising alternative. Over half of the employees say that it is always or often possible to shift work times. That leaves room for more flexible working hours.
DTV Consultants also surveyed whether people travel for their work or study. Half of all staff never go on business trips. One in six have one trip a month and a quarter travel for work more than twice a month. Almost half of those trips are by car, while one in eleven is by plane. A striking result is that students are more likely to fly. Almost one fifth of all students had been on one or more trips by plane in the past year.