The importance of sociodemographics in transport policy

Abstract

The relation between sociodemographics and travel behaviour (TB) patterns is relevant to understand to devise policies that can direct people towards more sustainable travel options as well as to be aware of people’s possibly restricted mobility for the sake of mobility justice. Especially in the Netherlands, both of these interests are relevant to the aim of broad welfare which has been formulated in 2019. In this research Latent Class Analysis was performed on the Dutch National Travel Survey combined datasets from 2018 and 2019 to uncover TB patterns. This analysis was conducted for necessary travels and leisure travel purposes and resulted in 7 distinct classes (8 for necessary travels) which each showed clear associations with specific sociodemographics. The results could be related to axes of disadvantage previously identified in a literature study and were subsequently assessed with 7 experts from the PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency. It was found that people who conform to many of the disadvantaging factors identified, such as low income, low education levels and women travel with active modes as well as public transit more often, possibly due to general modal disadvantage (i.e. difficult or no access to a car). Travellers who travel with children but besides that have other advantaging factors (high income, older age) or travellers who live in rural areas and thus have spatial disadvantages, travel by car more often, also for very short distances. Against initial expectations, the research did not necessarily show extensive difference in distance travelled for travellers with disadvantaging factors. Recommendations concluded from these findings include the need to detach car use from car ownership, by e.g. promoting car-sharing more as well as enabling travelling with young children to be possible on public transit (physically as well as information wise).