We are not there yet, are we? The influence of travel-based multitasking on the utility of travel time for Rotterdam's public transport

It is often assumed that the demand for travel is derived; individuals do not derive utility from travel itself, but in partaking in activities at their desired destination. This assumption underpins travel demand forecasting models to transport infrastructure appraisal. In the past decades, however, scholars have noted that an intrinsic utility for travel does in fact exist, partially attributed to the activities conducted during travel time i.e. travel-based multitasking. Travel- based multitasking is more viable than ever due to the advancement of information and communication technologies which has improved the range of activities that can be conducted as well their effectiveness (Jain & Lyons, 2008; Mokhtarian & Salomon, 2001; Singleton, 2018). In encouraging a modal shift towards public transport in Rotterdam, service providers have recognized the value of more productive and comfortable travel experiences in enhancing their service offering and accordingly the utility of travel time. For example, the RET has quoted the example of installing Wi-Fi connections as an innovative selling proposition to stimulate entertainment using ICTs and accordingly customer satisfaction (RET, n.d.c.). The effect of travel-based multitasking on the utility of travel time has also been proven in the context of Rotterdam in Rasouli & Timmermans’ (2014) paper. Despite the facilitation of travel-based multitasking by transport service providers, the potential benefits of travel time use remain widely disregarded. Subjective well-being-based measures of the utility of travel time have not been utilized, despite the potential long-term effects of travel time on life satisfaction and emotional well-being, especially in the case of commuting, one of the least appreciated moments of the day that is most widely and frequently taken (Ettema et al., 2012; Ettema & Verschuren, 2007; Kahneman et al., 2004a; Kouwenhoven & de Jong, 2018; Van der Waerden et al., 2009). This among other limitations shape the objective of this research: to establish the impact of travel-based multitasking on the utility of travel time for public transport commuters in Rotterdam. The research strategy that has been used is that of a survey due to its large-scale approach, using both questionnaires and pilot questionnaires. Sampling procedures were a mix of cluster and convenience sampling, and the data analysis spanned both descriptive and inferential statistics. Numerical and graphical descriptive statistics were referred to, spanning histograms to Spearman’s correlations, and a multiple linear regression used to infer causality. The main finding is that the average public transport commuter in the sample experiences a positive utility of travel time, which is influenced moderately by travel-based multitasking as a function of both primary activity characteristics and secondary activities. The effect is specific to a total of five indicators: trip duration, trip crowdedness, and Wi-Fi connectivity, in addition to entertainment by reading and eating/drinking. Thus, travel time gains are not the main transport benefits, and intrinsic positive utility for travel does indeed exist (Annema et al., 2016; Jains & Lyons, 2008; Mokhtarian & Salomon, 2001; Singleton, 2018). Furthermore, Mokhtarian et al.’s (2001) claim that the intrinsic positive utility for travel partially arises due to gains in economic productivity does not go validated either which does not support arguments towards upgrading public transport vehicles to include, for example, laptop stations and work zones. However, it suggests that the benefits of travel-based multitasking may go beyond the trip – as claimed by Ettema et al. (2012), although it may not be immediately satisfying to be productive while travelling, the benefits may ripple through the participant’s day, improving well-being overall. The practical recommendations that can be given to the RET and NS, taking into account the limited generalizability of results given the sample size, is firstly to improve Wi-Fi connectivity. The second recommendation is to focus investments into optimizing public transport cabins for entertainment by reading. Recommendations that can be made for future research are studying the effect of travel-based multitasking on the utility of travel time using longitudinal data to allow for more reliable impact evaluation and investigating the decision utility involved in multitasking and how it differs from experienced utility – this is recommended in order to understand whether the productive benefits of travel-based multitasking extend past travel time into the improved day-to-day wellbeing of commuters.