The subjective aspects of mobility have received very little attention in traffic and transport research. Most studies have focused on observable patterns and behaviours. In order to better understand the subjective aspects of mobility, this report looks at the experiences and attitudes related to the use of cars, bicycles and public transport. What is considered the most enjoyable form of transport in the Netherlands? How do people judge travelling by car, bicycle or public transport? How do people respond emotionally?

The report does not address the question of whether cars, bicycles and public transport function “well” or “poorly” in an objective sense, but rather describes how people experience the use of different modes of transport and people’s attitudes to them. Experience in this context refers to people’s judgements and opinions that are based on the actual use of cars, bicycles and public transport, whereas attitudes are more general ideas and views that are not necessarily based on real experiences. In order to take into account the differences in experience and attitudes, a distinction has been drawn between frequent, occasional and infrequent/non-users of cars, bicycles and public
transport.

The report not only clearly presents the differences in experience of and attitudes towards the use of cars, bicycles or public transport, but also shows what is responsible for these differences. Is the perceived appeal of cars, bicycles or public transport linked to characteristics of the mode of transport, or are the experiences and attitudes more rooted in an individuals’ lifestyle and living situation? The former assumes that there is a direct connection between appeal and aspects of travel, such as speed, cost, comfort and possible traffic jams or delays. The latter proposes that appeal is primarily dependent on individual characteristics, such as lifestyle and living situation.

To answer these questions, a survey was conducted in the spring of 2005 as a joint initiative of the Directorate-General of Public Works and Water Management Transport Research Centre (RWS-AVV) and The Netherlands Institute for Social Research (SCP). The written questionnaire was distributed among a representative sample of the adult Dutch population (aged 18 and over), and produced 1,028 usable responses.

Cars and bicycles most preferred, public transport least popular
The study showed that travelling by car is considered the most attractive mode of transport by two-thirds of all people in the Netherlands (67%), roughly one quarter prefer to cycle (27%) and 4% find public transport the most appealing.
In general, people in the Netherlands give a positive rating to the mode of transport they use the most and treat alternatives with more scepticism.
In other words, the more often people use a particular mode of transport, the more positively they perceive it. This is particularly true of public transport. Of the people who rarely/never take public transport, 62% hold a negative view of it, whereas the majority of
people who take public transport several times a week experience it positively (56%). However, nearly one quarter (24%) of these ‘frequent users’ assess public transport negatively. By comparison, the number of motorists/cyclists with a negative view of their respective form of transport is very small (3% and 1%, respectively).
People in the Netherlands also associate positive feelings with travel by car and bicycle. Travelling by car is associated with pleasure by 52% of the population, and travelling by bicycle by 67%. Far fewer people associate negative emotions with cars and bicycles. Approximately 6% of the population associate cars with negative feelings, and 4% perceive travelling by bicycle negatively. Public transport is associated with pleasure by 11% of the population, whereas one in five people in the Netherlands have feelings of aversion towards it.

Aspects of travel account for differences in appeal
Differences in the appeal of travel by car, bicycle and public transport can be partially explained by aspects of travel, including speed, cost, comfort and other aspects such as independence and flexibility.
Travelling by car offers far more convenience, independence, flexibility, comfort, pleasure, safety and speed than travelling by public transport. People have a predominantly positive view of travelling by bicycle – in addition to the low costs, people also value ‘always arriving on time’ and ‘being by oneself’. Travelling by bicycle is also seldom associated with annoyance or delays. Public transport in general received a less positive reaction. This is especially true of those who rarely/never use public transport, although public transport users themselves also gave a less positive assessment.

Individual characteristics carry less weight
Individual characteristics such as age, gender and level of education also influence experience and attitudes; however, they seem to be less important on balance.
Nevertheless, in order to generate a complete picture of experience and attitudes, it is important to consider a number of individual characteristics. Firstly, there are gender differences. Women are less harsh about the quality of public transport and see bicycle travel more frequently as a valid alternative. Age also contributes to differences in
perception and experience. Cars are especially popular among young people, while older persons have a more positive attitude towards public transport. Thirdly, differences in experience are also the result of spatial aspects. For example, people living in rural areas often have a more positive view of cars, and they are also the ones who give public
transport a less positive assessment.