Workshop Synthesis: Accommodating behavioral trends and the new normal in travel surveys

The evolving landscape of travel behavior, shaped by teleworking, e-commerce, and digital engagement, calls for a reassessment of travel survey methodologies. This workshop explored innovative tools to better capture modern mobility patterns, including new residential preferences, virtual activity integration, and emerging trends. The main outcome is that a stable “new normal” is misleading – societal and technological change is ongoing. Teleworking and e-commerce are transforming travel behavior, but long-term effects remain uncertain. Telework, mainly adopted by high-income, digitally connected workers, was expected to reduce commuting. However, rebound effects like increased non-work travel or residential relocation may counteract these benefits. The shift toward “working-from-anywhere” adds complexity to travel demand modeling. E-commerce reduces some shopping trips but introduces new travel patterns – returns, deliveries, and pick-ups – potentially increasing car use and delivery traffic. It also risks widening mobility inequalities, particularly for digitally excluded populations. Traditional surveys struggle to reflect these evolving behaviors. One-day travel diaries are insufficient. We identified a need for multi-day, hybrid time-use/trip-based surveys, continuous data collection, and the integration of external sources (e.g., employer or platform data). Agile and adaptive survey strategies are essential to keep pace with rapid change.