Scale and the workplace as level of analysis in transport geography

Abstract

It is often stated that one of the advantages of geography is its ability to include various spatial scales (other than the individual). In transport policy, the workplace is increasingly seen as a level of intervention which, as a consequence, should be researched by geographers. The present essay discusses the workplace as level of analysis in transport geography. Exploratory measures indicate that 12 to 65 % of the variance in mode choice can be attributed to this level, with considerable differences between modes. However, these measures ignore the relationships and interactions of and between employees. An alternative, network-based view on workplaces is illustrated by means of a small case study. The empirical examples are the starting point for a discussion of some methodological issues related to analyses at multiple levels.