Study: Are public transportation options only an economic choice?
This page is translated from the original post "Étude : les transports en commun, un choix seulement économique ?" in French.
- 01/03/2023 9:30
An Alphabet/Ifop survey shows that financial considerations influence the choice of public transportation for commuting trips.
While private cars remain by far the preferred mode of travel for employed people in France, public transportation is also popular. Alphabet conducted a survey with Ifop on 1,000 people, of whom 20% reported using public transit to get to work. The majority of these users are residents of large urban areas (exactly 81%), where networks of buses, trams, trains, and metros are denser. Half of them even come from the Paris region.
Money Matters?
First, what motivates employed individuals to use public transportation instead of their cars? More than half of those surveyed – 54% – cited “economic factors” as their primary reason. Other reasons in favor of public transit are “ecological considerations” for 44% and speed for 41%.
Finally, 18% admit that taking the bus or train is a default choice, with no other mobility option available. This correlates with another surprising statistic: 83% of public transit users hold a driver’s license.
The economic aspect is therefore significant, and corporate participation is essential to promote public transit. Indeed, partial or full reimbursements are provided to 58% of respondents. In France, coverage is 50% by private or public employers, and individuals can also combine it with the Sustainable Mobility Allowance.
Users want cheaper and faster public transport
The survey discusses current perceptions, but how do French men and women envision future public transportation? Or at least, what do they want? Money remains the top concern, with 53% desiring lower costs. The other two important wishes are speed and ecological friendliness, each for over 45% of respondents.
Conversely, here are the main negatives associated with public transportation:
- Time loss: 74%
- Punctuality issues: 63%
- Stress due to increased crowding: 59%
Perhaps the situation of transport in Paris and its suburbs (half of the users) in 2022 has contributed to these downsides.
Read also: Towards a single transit ticket for all of France?
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