Some of the principal results are presented of a study of the reasons underlying travellers' modal choices. A comparative study was made of journeys in three Swiss and three French towns. The sample was chosen from workers who had a choice between using a car and a nearby efficient public transport system. A telephone survey was conducted on a random quota sample of 3000 people, living in the centres or suburbs of the towns studied. Most people chose to drive on their journey to work. Public transport was used far more often in the German-speaking Swiss town of Bern than in the two French-speaking Swiss towns, where in turn it was used more often than in the three French towns. Modal choice expresses lifestyle, and is not a result of residential choice and fixed destinations. Thus the choice of destination depends on modal practices. The results of the research showed that predominant use of the car is determined largely by cultural predisposition towards use of the car. Bern has a structure, town planning and parking policies, and process favouring the use of public transport. In the five French-speaking towns, the process favours use of the car and leads to much less use of public transport. A restrictive parking policy seems acceptable only to populations already strongly favouring public transport.
Samenvatting