Transport poverty is in all walks of life
Ghent University, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Netwerk Duurzame Mobiliteit and Mobiel 21 investigated the underlying factors of transport poverty. Based on the research, they identified five population groups that are less mobile and formulated recommendations for a more inclusive and equitable mobility policy.
Transport poverty: what is it?
We talk about transport poverty when people, for whatever reason, do not get where they want to go. Think of their work, the school, the supermarket or the doctor. Lack of money is the main cause, but physical limitations or a lack of language or cycling skills often make it difficult or even impossible for people to 'get there'.
Transport poverty limits people's travel options, preventing them from fully participating in society. This leads to social exclusion and loneliness. A lot of people, both rural and urban, encounter it. Only there is insufficient knowledge about the factors fuelling the problem.
The study
For the survey, more than 900 people who do not move for an average of two days a week completed a comprehensive questionnaire. They did so in summer 2020, during the first easing after the COVID-19 lockdown in March and April.
Specifically, the questionnaire probed various aspects, such as:
- Sociodemographic characteristics
- Spatial characteristics of their environment
- Access to and ownership of transport options
- Mobility behaviour (before and during the pandemic)
Five less mobile populations
Based on the questionnaire responses, the researchers identified five population groups that are less mobile. These are five diverse profiles:
- Mobile elderly people
- Young starters
- Urban dwellers who depend on public transport
- Suburban dwellers dependent on a car
- Elderly people living in rural areas
3 recommendations for inclusive and equitable mobility
- Additional in-depth research is needed by profile. Individuals struggling with transport poverty are often not heard enough, leaving the problem under-reported. 377 out of 924 respondents are willing to be involved in a follow-up survey.
- Policy measures should be tailored by profile. Not all mobility measures are equally effective for each of the five profiles. For example, free or cheap public transport is not a solution if the offer does not meet the mobility demand. A person who cannot possibly get to a bus stop does not benefit from that bus stop.
- Mobility measures and spatial measures must be coordinated. The solution is far from always offering more transport options. A new social housing project in a suburb with poor public transport access, for instance, will lead to more transport poverty. The location of basic services, close to people's front doors, deserves equal attention.
Other findings and observations
- A person who is unemployed or retired is more likely to experience transport poverty. On the one hand, this can be explained by lower income and, on the other, because unemployed and retired people cannot benefit from mobility solutions through an employer.
- Lower income also means more often not owning a car. 40% of respondents do not own a car and rely on other solutions. A well-functioning social network is then very important. Without such a network, the likelihood of social exclusion increases, creating a reinforcing and vicious effect.
- Almost half of the respondents depend on public transport for essential travel. For example, 20% of respondents need public transport to buy (quality) food.
- Not everyone has the right information to make the best use of public transport, both about timetables and fares. Digital skills and access to digital tools play a big role here.
- Half of the respondents feel that their environment is not bicycle-friendly. As many as 16% of the participants cannot cycle, and even 30% do not own a bicycle. However, as a flexible and relatively cheap means of transport, the bicycle has great potential in the fight against transport poverty.
A complex problem with many faces
People in transport poverty are each restricted in their daily lives in different ways. You cannot automatically link transport poverty to age, income, education level, work situation, place of residence, car ownership, cycling ability, or access to public transport. Any characteristic can contribute to transport poverty. Transport poverty is thus a complex problem, which means that a solution for one person is not necessarily a solution for another. This is precisely why research into the underlying factors of the problem is so important.
Questions about the research, the five profiles or the recommendations?
Our researcher, Sam Delespaul, is happy to tell you more. Contact him using the form below.
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Fighting transport poverty
Everyone has the right to move freely and participate in society. We support people facing transport disadvantages by identifying vulnerable groups, and seek to integrate equity into sustainable mobility.