Transport poverty is the inability to access essential services and opportunities due to inadequate or unaffordable transport options. This could mean struggling to get to work, access healthcare, or even visit family and friends. It's a complex issue with far-reaching consequences, often underestimated in its impact on financial and social inclusion.
Transport poverty is a multifaceted issue and can manifest in different ways. In general, it refers to the difficulties faced when finding a suitable, affordable, safe, and convenient transport option to meet daily basic activities.
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What causes Transportation Poverty
There are multiple factors that contribute to Transport Poverty. One factor is the unaffordability of existing transport options. If the cost of public transport is too high, it can strain a household's income and put them at risk of poverty.
Another factor is the absence of transport options. In some areas, there may be no public transport available, making it difficult for individuals to access essential services and participate in society.
Additionally, negative externalities such as safety issues or long journey durations can contribute to Transport Poverty.
We can include in this broad definition also the specific case of people with disabilities, for example if the buses used in public transport do not offer ease of access to wheelchair or scooter users.
What causes Transportation Poverty
There are multiple factors that contribute to Transport Poverty.
One factor is the unaffordability of existing transport options. If the cost of public transport is too high, it can strain a household's income and put them at risk of poverty.
Another factor is the absence of transport options. In some areas, there may be no public transport available, making it difficult for individuals to access essential services and participate in society.
Additionally, negative externalities such as safety issues or long journey durations can contribute to Transport Poverty.
We can include in this broad definition also the specific case of people with disabilities, for example if the buses used in public transport do not offer ease of access to wheelchair or scooter users.
The Impact of Transport Poverty
Impact on households and businesses
Transport poverty hits both households and businesses hard. For families, it can mean limited job opportunities and reduced access to education and healthcare. Imagine being stuck in a cycle of unemployment because you can't get to interviews. For businesses, especially in rural areas, it can mean difficulty attracting and retaining staff, and reduced access to markets. It's a real drag on the economy, no doubt about it.
Societal implications
The effects of transport poverty ripple throughout society. It can lead to social isolation, reduced community engagement, and increased inequality. When people can't participate fully in society because they lack transport, it creates a divide. It's not just an individual problem; it's a societal one that needs addressing.
Work
Transport Poverty impacts various aspects of life, including work and education. Being able to go to work is crucial for earning a living and maintaining a good quality of life.
If public transport options take too much time or are too expensive, it can lead to exhaustion, time poverty, and social isolation.
Lack of access to suitable transport options can also hinder education, particularly for children and teenagers. Students may have to walk long distances or be limited in their educational opportunities due to the lack of accessible schools.
Social Life
Mobility is not only important for work and education but also for social inclusion. Being able to move in space allows individuals to access goods, services, and activities.
It enables social interactions with friends, family, and communities outside their immediate surroundings. Furthermore, mobility is essential for accessing healthcare services, and Transport Poverty can prevent individuals from receiving necessary medical care and treatment.
Social Inclusion
Mobility is not only significant for work or education. Being able to move in space is essential to have access to goods, services, and activities.
This range of activities include visiting friends and relatives, playing or practising sports, joining an association or a political party. In other words, having social interactions with other people who do not live in the immediate surroundings of our home.
More importantly, mobility allows us to reach healthcare services. A situation of Transport Poverty could force an individual to give up essential prevention and monitoring activities. And can be a severe complication when therapy is needed.
Is the Private Car Model outdated?
The private car model, which promotes individual car ownership, is outdated and unsuitable for addressing Transport Poverty.
Many middle-class families rely on private cars for their daily activities, while public transport is often neglected. Unfortunately, cars are also very expensive to buy, with a significant upfront cost even for the humblest models.
A motor car must be maintained and is subject to taxation in many countries. The cost of fuel is directly proportional to the distance travelled. And vehicles must be insured, as well.
The private car model is exclusive to the poorest families who cannot afford a car.
It is not a sustainable solution and hinders the development of efficient and environmentally-friendly public transport systems, as it limits the potential amount of users to the fewer earners.
A sustainable public transport
A sustainable public transport system is crucial for addressing Transport Poverty. The evolution towards a smart city model questions the necessity of individual car ownership.
Efficient public transport can emit less CO2 per passenger and can adopt electric vehicles more easily. Centralizing charging infrastructure at stations is more feasible for public transport systems than individual car owners.
Shared mobility services can also play a significant role in improving access to mobility. These services, such as app-based car-sharing, scooter-sharing, or bike-sharing, allow individuals to pay for the use of a vehicle based on time or distance travelled.
By sharing vehicles, their usage is optimized, and social inclusion is improved.
The contribution of shared mobility
While shared mobility services have their benefits, they also present challenges. Achieving a minimum critical mass of users may be more difficult in rural areas. Additionally, many of these services require digital payment methods, such as credit cards, which can exclude individuals with no credit history or a bad one.
Inclusive options, such as in-app wallets that can be topped up with debit or prepaid cards, should be considered.
There are ongoing projects and initiatives aimed at addressing Transport Poverty.
One such project is RideTandem, which operates in the UK. These projects focus on providing accessible and affordable transport solutions to individuals facing Transport Poverty.
Combating transport poverty
Several countries are working on mitigation measures. At present, most actions focus on the demand side: they seek to reduce the economic barriers that prevent vulnerable groups from accessing existing mobility services or purchasing their own vehicles.
Initiatives that work on strengthening supply, perhaps through integration or partnerships between public transport, the private sector and the third sector, are rarer.
Reduce the cost of transport
Several initiatives are aimed at reducing the impact of transport costs at the point of payment. Mobility wallets, for example, are digital wallets (such as Apple Pay or Google Pay) that allow users to pay for public transport, shared mobility and taxis with a single tool. The amount to be paid is adjusted to the traveller's income: this is an automatic procedure encoded in the app, which therefore excludes cash payments. Work is being done on this front from Los Angeles to Brussels, passing through several French municipalities, to name but a few examples.
In other cases, such as in Trento in Italy, a discount is being trialled for women, the elderly and the unemployed to use taxis or ride-hailing services such as Uber or Bolt. Another idea to work on the demand side is to offer free or reduced-price public transport passes: examples of this include the Bonus Trasporti in Italy and the French “Solidarity Pricing” scheme.
The private sector is also being relied upon to encourage carpooling. The Karos project, currently underway in France, for example, provides rewards or reduced fares for low-income commuters who wish to use it.
Transport on demand
A solution already being tested in many countries Italy is transport on demand, which allows users to request transport services in rural or suburban areas, typically at subsidised rates. Commercial on-demand transport (i.e. with market rates rather than subsidised rates) is also developing significantly in bigger cities in the evening and at night, offering those who want to return home a safe and less expensive alternative to public transport and taxis.
The objective of Pulmì, a project launched in the Sicilian province of Ragusa, Italy, in the summer of 2024, is quite different. The service connects Ragusa and the Iblean municipalities of Chiaramonte Gulfi, Giarratana and Monterosso Almo “on demand” by minibus. Pullmì users can book their itinerary in advance, choosing from around thirty stops, via a call centre or app. The journey only takes place when there is a request and can be made between stops chosen after local focus groups. It is carried out using nine-seater minivans equipped with platforms for disabled access.
The idea behind Pullmì is to integrate the existing local public transport service: the stops have been chosen to bring users closer to existing local lines. Prices are affordable: the most convenient package of 200 prepaid journeys costs 200 euros, or £1 per journey. A single journey costs 5 euros.
The incentive puzzle
Finally, there is the option of facilitating access to private transport. This is not a choice for everyone, as it exposes households to a range of costs for vehicle maintenance, insurance, fuel and so on. Income-related bonuses are generally available for the purchase of a car or electric bicycle. These are available in many countries although their discontinuity and focus on specific types of vehicles may reduce their effectiveness in reducing transport poverty.
