Mobility has got young people mobilised
DIVERSIFIED MOBILITY
But cars are not the be-all and end-all. Young people are well aware that there is more than one way to travel.
Cycling tops the list, having been embraced by 7 out of 10 young people (Fig. 11). Its popularity in no way depends on where people live, with inhabitants of towns and cities of all sizes taking it up with equal enthusiasm. Having children provides an even greater incentive to cycle. The increasing use of electric bicycles to take children to school, especially in urban areas, is undoubtedly a factor.
If we look at the different countries, the Netherlands, where the bicycle is king, and, more surprisingly, Poland are the two most cycling-friendly nations. Its detractors include Portugal, the United States and the United Kingdom. Could it be something to do with the climate?
Ride sharing comes second in the ranking of alternative forms of transport, being cited by over 50% of young people, double the proportion of seniors. If we compare this to the figures reported in 2011, this is a particularly striking result, given that only 30% of young people said they had taken up cycling at the time. The Japanese and Italians are by far the least likely to get on a bike. The Chinese and Turks are once again among the most committed in this area.
It’s worth highlighting that car and bicycle hire receive very similar scores, with around 1 in 3 young people choosing to use these services.
EVEN THOSE WITHOUT A VEHICLE SOMETIMES TRAVEL BY CAR
However, not owning a vehicle doesn’t mean giving up on cars entirely. Once more, young people without their own wheels are taking advantage of ride sharing. This is the only item, along with car sharing, where the difference between this generation and seniors is so pronounced (Fig. 12).
Rental, a more traditional solution, and subscription services are the two most popular options for around 1 in 2 young people and seniors.
WALKING LAGS SLIGHTLY BEHIND AMONG THE YOUNG
When not driving, young people choose public transport for their daily travel requirements, especially if they live in a city. For their part, seniors prefer to walk, possibly because they are keen to stay in shape, although young people are not averse to this healthy choice either (Fig. 13).
KEY DATA
- 85% of young people pass their driving test before the age of 25
- 1 in 2 buy their car second-hand
- 7 out of 10 enjoy driving
- 1 in 2 feel that cars have enjoyed an image boost over the last 5 years
- 4% of young people who don’t have a car believe that they cause too much pollution
- 1 in 2 can’t imagine life without a car