Congestion has an increasing negative effect on the Dutch traffic. Time policy could be an alternative to create more spread in timeof activities resulting in less congested roads. Several ways are open for time policy. On the basis of research findings an overview of possible solutions is shown related to the theoretical framework of the time-geographical school of Lund. The development of the peak hour travel during the period 1979-1988 shows that the time spent for travelling has increased by 27 per cent. This did not result in a shift of the peak hour. The same level of time spent for travelling was exceeded during three hours and a half in 1979 and during six hours in 1988. Working times are the most important constraints for the temporal structure of activity patterns. Workers are using flexitime as a way to avoid peak hour travel. Research at two companies with flexitime shows that workers use this flexibility to avoid the traffic jams. With more flexibility in working hours workers are willing and able to change departure times. This will result in fewer trips during rush hours. The opening of the last part of the orbital highway around the city of Amsterdam showed that workers are flexible. Departure times have changed a lot. Some of the commuter trips returned to the rush hour, since the capacity of the infrastructure has increased. The effect of longer opening hours of shops will have onlyminor effect on the congestion. Some shopping trips during the afternoon could shift to a later time, but other shopping trips will be made possible by the new situation.
Abstract