Eurobarometer: ‘The future on Transport’ (NEW UPDATE)
Which forms of transport are on a daily base used by European citizens? Is there support for ‘pay-as- you- drive’ policies among the EU population? Are people ready to buy a ‘cleaner’ vehicle instead of the traditional one? What are reasons for not making use of public transport and what can stimulate this use? The answer of these questions are of importance for establishing a sustainable, efficient and environmental friendly urban transport policy.
For this reason the Directorate General Mobility and Transport requested an survey among the European population which resulted in the Eurobarometer ‘Future on Transport’. A total of 25.570 interviews were conducted among representative samples of EU citizens (older than 15 years).
Using the car; a convenient way for getting around
A slim majority of the EU population use the
car as their main mode of transport, 53%. Namely rural residents,
64%, use the car to get around on a daily base. About 22% of the
population make use of public transport systems. The main reasons
for not using public transportation are as following:
- Public transport is not as convenient as a car;
- The lack of proper connections;
- A low frequency of services;
- Unreliability;
- The lack of information about schedules;
- Public transport is too expensive.
Pay-as-you-drive policies: the way towards public transportation?
One of the directions towards sustainable,
effective and environmental friendly urban transport is to
stimulate the use of public transport and demotivate car use. One
of the instruments to accomplish this is the replacement of
existing car chargers by the new ‘pay-as-you-drive’ chargers. The
group of public transport users are more likely to agree with the
replacement of existing car chargers. Overall, half of the EU
citizens would agree with existing car charges being replaced by
new ‘pay-as-you-drive’ charges, 16% even strongly.
Secondly when buying a car compromises can be made in order to
reduce emissions, for instance on car’s speed, size and range.
About two-third of the EU citizens were willing to compromise on a
car’s speed in order to reduce emissions. Also on the car’s size
and range are people willing to compromise. Citizens are much less
likely to be willing to buy a ‘clean’ car if it is more
expensive.
A single transport ticket and an easy transfer between transport modes: as serious consideration.
Next to instruments influencing car use, a focus can be made on instruments determining the use of public transport. For instance the introduction of a single ticket covering all means of public transport. One in two EU citizens would seriously consider using public transport more frequently if they could buy a single ticket for their complete journey. Furthermore car users would be more willing to use public transport if they could combine the two modes of transport. An easy transfer from one transport mode to another, first of all by offering better online information about schedules, is an important condition.
Helpful insights for policymakers in the European Union
The Eurobarometer ‘Future on Transport’ provides an insight in the use, thoughts and opinions of the European citizens on modes of transport. This insight could be helpful for policymakers by formulating and stimulating an sustainable, effective and environmental friendly urban transport policy.