ABSTRACT
The consequences of persistent growth on society are far-reaching in terms of congestion and other external costs such as pollution and noise. The main explanation for this growth may be found in decreased costs of travel and faster modes of transport, but other factors may also have added to this growth. Several explanations have been offered to clarify the observed differences in commuting. The most important components of commuting behaviour are: the commuting distance; the commuting time; the travel mode. The chapter highlights important facts and figures of Dutch commuting behaviour. It must be noted that it is generally believed that commutes are shorter in the Netherlands than in other European countries. Information on commuting distance, commuting time and travel mode in the Netherlands is reported in the so-called Enquete Beroepsbevolking, which was conducted in 1992. This survey is representative for the Dutch population. The chapter also presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in this book.
