In comparing European travel patterns with the rest of the world, an intermediate state between the holistic Japanese and individualistic North American approaches is observed. Data are compared from five blocks - OECD-Europe, EEC, Eastern Europe, USA and Japan. Comparisons are made of a) car ownership, b) car density, c) length of motorway, d) density of motorway, e) gross domestic product, f) modal distribution, g) share of household expenses devoted to transport, h) car prices, i) road casualties, j) energy consumption, k) nitrogen oxide emissions and l) noise pollution. The role of factors such as geography, income level and fuel pricing is considered. It is suggested that mobility development is not determined solely by economic wealth.
Abstract