The Ministry of Transport is developing a "Long-term Plan for Transport Policy" (SVV II) aimed at a reduction of the growth in car use. Improvement of public transport, restrictive measures such as parking restrictions and a strategic communication plan are important elements of the proposed package, which among others is directed at a change in modal split towards public transport. Recently, a research project has been concluded indicating which factors are influencing the use of modes of transport. The results of this study are relevant for developing transport policy aimed at reducing the growth of car usage through a change in modal split towards public transport. Research results are presented on the basis of data collected in the conurbation of Rotterdam. The following subjects are dealt with: (1) the influence of public transport characteristics and psychological factors on frequency of public transport usage; (2) the influences of public transport characteristics, parking restrictions and psychological characteristics on the choice of public transport or car; (3) the influences of public transport characteristics and psychological characteristics on the choice of a certain public transport mode: bus or tram, tram or metro and metro or bus; and (4) the beliefs and attitudes towards modes of transport and towards its characteristics (speed, reliability, availability, comfort, etc). Differences between population groups are indicated. Among the results, it is shown that the choice for car or public transport is strongly related to psychological factors and parking restrictions. Good public transport characteristics (alone) have only a slight effect on modal change from car towards public transport, but leads to an increase in the frequency of use of public transport.
Samenvatting