Not to travel or how to travel? Understanding weekly commute choices in metropolitan versus rural settings in Australia

This study investigates how individuals allocate their weekly work time across not working, working from home (WFH), and commuting via different transport modes, with a comparative lens on metropolitan and rural settings in Australia. Using survey data collected in late 2022 across New South Wales and Queensland, a multiple discrete continuous extreme value (MDCEV) model is estimated to capture the proportion of weekly time allocated to each work-travel alternative. The model incorporates latent variables representing public transport concern and perceived WFH benefits. Results reveal significant differences between rural and metropolitan behaviours: metropolitan participants are more likely to WFH, use a broader range of transport modes, and are more sensitive to public transport egress time, often penalising it significantly more than in-vehicle time. In contrast, rural participants rely heavily on private vehicles, face more limited access to alternative modes, and are not very sensitive to the perceived benefits of WFH. The findings underscore that WFH tends to substitute car use more than public transport, and that perceived benefits of flexibility and non-commuting significantly influence weekly WFH adoption in metropolitan areas - particularly among younger individuals, caregivers, and women. These results highlight the need for context-sensitive policy: in metropolitan areas, promoting flexible work arrangements and addressing public transport concerns are key to encouraging sustainable commuting, while in rural areas, investment in digital infrastructure, remote work opportunities, and alternative transport options is needed to reduce car dependency. By modelling work and travel as interdependent weekly decisions, this study provides novel insights to inform transport planning and flexible work policies in the post-pandemic context.