54% of French people fear commuting problems on a daily basis

Newton Offices, leader in offices operated in regions, lifts the veil on the habits of the French when it comes to commuting in 2024 and on the contrast in mobility conditions between Paris and French regional metropolises. The study “The assets of metropolises and the journey between home and work” carried out by the OpinionWay institute for Newton Offices shows that the French are still very dependent on individual modes of transport (car, motorbike, scooter) even if they would like to opt for more ecological solutions. Metropolises that wish to develop soft mobility can activate levers that do not require major work: buses, self-service electric bicycles or even carpooling are expected by the French (and not just the younger generations).

Key lessons

• The average journey time between home and work is 31 minutes in the main French cities. Beyond 30 minutes of travel, 73% of respondents said they were dissatisfied with their travel time.
• The commute to work is a more important subject than before for 68% of French people, 88% consider the duration of their daily commute as a priority criterion in the event of moving or changing jobs.
• One in two French people (54%) fear daily commuting problems and the majority of residents of Île-de-France (55%) say they regularly arrive at work stressed because of their commute.
• Two thirds of French people would like to use more ecological modes of transport to go to work: public transport (67%) or soft mobility (63%).
• 54% of respondents use their car every week to get to the office (63% in the regions). If a reliable and affordable service were available near them, 66% of them would be ready to come by bus, 45% by carpooling.

Half of French people believe that their commute to work is too long

The OpinionWay study for Newton Offices reveals a notable gap between apparent satisfaction and the real expectations of workers in the main metropolises. Although the average journey time is 31 minutes (37 minutes in Île-de-France, 26 minutes in the regions), the ideal duration expressed by workers is significantly lower (19 minutes). This discrepancy highlights an underlying tension: one in two workers (50%) considers that their daily commute is excessively long. Another observation is that more than a quarter of workers notice an increase in the duration of these journeys over the years (28%), signaling increasing pressure on daily life and a need for alternatives. To go further, half of those surveyed think that the situation will not improve in the next three years, with travel times remaining unchanged (50%), or even increasing (19%).

Journeys that weigh more and more

The survey results reveal marked differences in the perception and satisfaction of commuting between residents of the Paris region and those of other French metropolises. While only 36% of Ile-de-France residents manage to reach their workplace in less than 30 minutes, this figure rises to 63% for workers in other regions. A significant gap in the urban mobility experience, especially when we see that beyond 30 minutes of travel, 73% of respondents said they were dissatisfied with their travel time.

The study also highlights the impact of commuting on major personal and professional decisions. The journey between home and work is a more important subject than before for 68% of French people, and 88% of working people declare that the duration of journeys significantly influences their choices about moving or changing jobs. “We can clearly see that things have changed, travel time is now a major criterion for the French with a direct impact on their life choices” declares Guillaume Pellegrin, founder of Newton Offices. “A company can no longer choose the location of its offices lightly. Just like the comfort of workspaces, accessibility is today a major issue in attracting talent and retaining employees.”

The bus popular with residents of metropolises

In 2024, residents of French metropolises find themselves at a crossroads in their mobility choices. Despite a continued preference for the car, used daily by 37% of respondents (54% at least once a week) and at the top of the modes of transport considered the least stressful (tied with the bicycle), two thirds of the population (63%) would like to turn to more ecological alternatives.

Thus, 66% of respondents would like to use the bus daily if a reliable and affordable service was available nearby. For metropolises wishing to limit the use of individual vehicles, self-service fleets of electric bicycles and scooters are also a good option, cited by 40% and 27% of respondents respectively.

Note that carpooling represents a real alternative to be developed. This mode of travel is expected by 33% of working people in France (41% among those under 45). This trend is especially true in regional metropolises (39%) where, faced with a less dense transport offer, carpooling stands out as a preferred option, demonstrating the search for solutions that are both ecological and collective. Montpellier (48%) and Rennes (46%) are the two metropolises with the greatest demand for carpooling solutions.

Commuting to work: women less stressed than men

Among the lessons from this survey, we can see real differences in perception and appetite between men and women regarding the home-work commute. First of all, more women say they are very satisfied with their travel time (34% compared to 24%). They are also less stressed by their journey (43% compared to 49% among men) and fear their daily journey less than their male counterparts (51% compared to 58%).

This survey also shows that men are prepared to accept a journey 15% longer than women (20,3 min compared to 17,7 min). Also, when choosing between more teleworking and a more pleasant home-work commute, women would clearly opt for more teleworking (63%) than men (42%). Finally, despite these points of divergence, we see that the daily commute remains an essential point for both men and women since the majority would both opt for an equivalent salary with a more pleasant commute to work (66%). rather than a slightly higher salary with a significantly more difficult commute to work.

Young people, not so good students

Beyond the differences between men and women, the Opinion Way survey for Newton Offices establishes differences between the generations. Those under 35 generally use public transport more than their elders, but they also seem more flexible since they use more different means of transport to get to work over a week.

At the same time, and contrary to popular belief, those over 50 are no more car enthusiasts than the new generation. In fact, 44% of them use their vehicle at least once a week to go to the office, compared to 56% of those under 35. On the other hand, we can clearly see that the journey between home and work is more important for the youngest, 66% of whom fear their daily journey problems (compared to 47% of those over 50), 71% of whom also say having already given up leisure activities before or after work because of travel time (compared to 30% among those over 50).

Nantes and Toulouse, champions of urban mobility, Bordeaux and Nice stand out in their own way

We saw that the inhabitants of Greater Paris were generally less well off than their compatriots living in the regions, particularly with longer travel times (37 min on average compared to 25 min), and which lead to more daily stress (55% Ile-de-France residents regularly arrive stressed at the office compared to 35% in the regions).

We also note notable differences within the 9 regional metropolises surveyed. In terms of stress, for example, Rennes (25%), Toulouse (26%) and Montpellier (28%) are the cities where residents say they are least stressed by their journey, unlike Lille (46%). Then, it is in Aix-Marseille that people use their cars the most, 75% of residents say they use them every week to get to the office. But it is also in Aix-Marseille that travel times are the shortest (23 minutes, tied with Toulouse and Rennes) and where residents say they are most satisfied with their journey (41% very satisfied), followed by closely followed by those from Montpellier (38%) and those from Nantes (37%).

The people of Bordeaux are the most concerned by environmental issues. 72% of residents of the Bordeaux metropolis would like to use more ecological modes of transport to go to work (compared to 63% on average in France). It is also, tied with Toulouse, in Bordeaux that people use the bicycle the most to get to the office on a daily basis (12% compared to 8% nationally). On the other hand, 35% of Bordeaux residents believe that their journey has increased over the last 3 years compared to 28% nationally. Finally, to finish on two wheels, Nice is by far the regional metropolis where motorbikes or scooters are used the most on a daily basis (31% compared to 20% on average in the regions). The people of Nice are thus closer to what we see in Greater Paris (32%).

Overall, if we consider the main questions linked to opinions on the home-work journey, Nantes and Toulouse do well. Fewer residents there find their journey too long (38% compared to 50% on average) or to dread their journey daily, and more numerous to find their journey pleasant.

The role of businesses

Effective management of commuting is becoming a priority for companies aware of the impacts on well-being and productivity. 83% of French people believe that companies should commit to improving employees' journeys between home and work (86% according to employees of companies with more than 500 employees).

For Guillaume Pellegrin: “This is what we see every day with the companies we support in their search for offices throughout France. Employee journeys to work are an integral part of companies’ carbon footprint. But beyond their ecological responsibility, managers are caught up by the new lifestyles of their employees who no longer accept losing more than an hour a day getting to work. At the risk of looking elsewhere, and even moving to a metropolis that will offer them a better quality of life. »

Going further, 62% of those surveyed would like to have a professional workspace near their home to work occasionally, a figure which rises to 80% among those under 35. For Guillaume Pellegrin, “This is a sign that teleworking is not an end in itself. Once the arduousness of the journey is neutralized, we prefer to work in a comfortable and professional space which allows us to maintain social ties and develop synergies.”

Newton Offices, a player committed to green mobility

At Newton Offices, a specialist in turnkey offices, green mobility is more than a priority, it is a reality. The player who has given itself the mission of supporting the deployment of the economy in cities and territories, offers new generation office buildings in the heart of cities which allow employees to work close to home, reducing significantly improve their journeys and thus improve their quality of life.

As proof of its commitment to CSR, Newton Offices also recently launched a unique offer on its Haute Borne site in Villeneuve d'Ascq (59), offering fully equipped work spaces, scooters or electric bikes included.

By combining flexibility and proximity, Newton Offices does not just follow trends, but is actively involved in improving the working and commuting conditions of its users, in direct response to the needs expressed by increasingly growing generations. mobile and concerned about their well-being.

Conclusion

Adapting to the mobility needs of employees is now an imperative. But how do you effectively balance employee expectations with optimal management of resources and workspaces? For businesses, the answer lies in flexibility and astute planning given future uncertainties. Adopting flexible solutions, through services such as those offered by Newton Offices, makes it possible not only to meet current needs, but also to quickly adapt to future developments. With initiatives already in place in Aix-Marseille, Lyon, Lille, Toulouse and Montpellier, Newton Offices positions itself as a pioneer, offering spaces that encourage not only productivity but also the well-being of employees.

For Guillaume Pellegrin: “This study shows that the current system, designed for cars, is running out of steam. It is high time to reinvent mobility in major French cities, both for ecological issues and for the well-being of residents, particularly the youngest and the oldest. This will obviously require elected officials to become aware so that they can quickly develop the infrastructure. Companies also have a responsibility in this transition: both by setting up their offices in areas accessible by public transport, but also by encouraging their employees to use gentle modes of travel. Everyone has a role to play in the future of their territory and the construction of the city of tomorrow! »

Methodology

Study carried out by OpinionWay from February 15 to 23, 2024 among 1.664 French workers over 18 years old located in the urban areas of Paris, Aix-Marseille, Lyon, Lille, Bordeaux, Toulouse, Nantes, Montpellier, Rennes and Nice. OpinionWay carried out this survey by applying the procedures and rules of the ISO 20252 standard. The results of this survey must be read taking into account the margins of uncertainty: 1,5 to 3 points at most for a sample of 1.000 respondents.