Driving licence and access to a car traditionally have been among the most significant determinants for mode choice. In the 1980s, driving licence rates among young people increased in Norway and Sweden. In the 1990s, trend changed. The driving licence rates among young people between 18 and 24 years decreased both in Norway and in Sweden. The same trend has appeared in the big cities in Finland and also in the UK. At the same time, there has been a decline in young people's access to a car (defined as access to a car whenever you need one) in Norway and Sweden. A review of existing literature and analyses of transport use and attitudes to transport modes among young people was undertaken. The objective is to identify the most important barriers and determinants connected to transport mode choice today and identify the main challenges for future travel behaviour among young people. In what way will the trends among youth affect the use of local public transport, and how can the public transport sector meet these challenges? The findings indicate that the car does not have the same symbolic value as before among young people in the city areas. The development in the population's travel patterns show that people travel more, and the pattern of travel is becoming ever more differentiated. When young people choose transport mode, they look for a convenient way to organize their everyday life. The everyday life of many young people as structured consists of a set of different travel destinations; University, part time job, training, meeting friends at a cafe etc. Public transport users are not a homogenous group. Public transport users belong to groups in all categories, in all layers of society, with different needs and requirements with regard to travel and with different levels of willingness and capability to pay. Thus, public transport presents a major challenge with regard to developing a service which will meet the demands of these different groups. Developing a standard service designed to satisfy the needs of all groups may result in a poor service for the majority. If young people experience an inflexible and uncomfortable public transport supply not adjusted to their needs they will acquire a driving licence and buy a car as soon as they feel that their everyday trips are too complicated with public transport. For the covering abstract please see ITRD E135207.
Abstract