People who are aware of the impact of energy use on the environment are more than twice as likely to use public transport as those with a less ecology-minded outlook. Good availability of bus and train options had a similar effect, and the belief that driving is dangerous was a strong disincentive for taking the car. However, much more significant than these factors was the availability of a car park at the destination. If it was judged to be “difficult” to find a parking place, people are ten times more likely to leave the car at home.

This is the first time that comparative research has been conducted on the effect on car use of people’s awareness of energy use issues. “Having an ecological outlook certainly has an impact, but these psychological factors are far less important that practical concerns,” said Dr Philippe Gerber of CEPS/INSTEAD, the joint lead-researcher on this project. “People who said parking near their workplace was ‘difficult’ to find were ten times more likely to use public transport than those with a reserved parking place,” he pointed out. Even those who found it “easy” to get parked were nearly five times more likely to use buses and trains than those who have their own personal spot.

There are implications for governments seeking to encourage people to use their cars less frequently. Providing good public transport links and making car travel less convenient would probably have the strongest impact, although publicity campaigns in favour of green travel will also have an effect.

Philippe GERBER

The research team asked 3,313 people about their lifestyles and transport habits, while also using a word-association questionnaire to measure beliefs about energy. “Attitudes towards energy have been proven to be a reliable indicator of a person’s broad environmental awareness,” noted Dr Gerber. All those surveyed were commuters into the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg from France, Belgium and Germany, and their average one-way journey length was 44km (28 miles).

Having convenient train and bus services were about as significant as having a “green” outlook when deciding on how to get to work. Similarly, those commuters with children were almost half as likely to take public transport as their childless colleagues. Neither income, nor age, nor gender played much role in transport choices amongst the people surveyed.