You don't convince people to commute differently. If that's your goal, you instead "convince them" to live in different places and work at different jobs. The

You don't convince people to commute differently. If that's your goal, you instead "convince them" to live in different places and work at different jobs. The commute follows from that. People don't 'choose' to get the train in to their office block in London. They use it because they deliberately chose their home and job within those constraints. If they live a few miles from the station, they might cycle or drive to the station and go from there. This is again dictated by their home situation, it's not a choice in the immediate sense. Next time I end up in London I'm thinking of renting a flat within walking (or 10 minute cycle) distance of wherever I end up working. The commute was essentially dictated when I made that decision. If I sign a 12 month lease or buy a place further out then I'd have decided a different commute for myself, at that time, for the next ~year.