Alternatives to travel are methods for reducing or removing the need to travel through the use of information and communications technologies and flexible working. This could include; working from home or a work hub or office closer to home; making use of aor staggering working hours to avoid traveling during peak hours.

The Department’s work on alternatives to travel currently focuses on commuting and business travel, but alternatives can also be used to replace other journeys, for example through online shopping.

There are a range of benefits associated with alternatives to travel – environmental (reduced transport emissions), economic (increased staff productivity, reduced travel and office costs, improved staff retention, reduced absenteeism) and social (improved quality of life and work/life balance).

• Next steps on alternatives to travel, 17 November 2011
• Alternatives to travel: a call for evidence – summary of responses, 17 November 2011
• Alternatives to travel: a call for evidence, 5 April 2011

Further information

• Anywhere Working
• National Business Travel Network ways2work