THE TRANSPORT RICH AND THE TRANSPORT POOR: CAR DEPENDENCY AND SOCIAL CLASS IN FOUR EUROPEAN CITIES

Social inequities in access to transport in Dublin since the economic boom are explored. An analysis of the causes and consequences of car dependency was conducted by comparing Athens, Bologna, Dublin and Helsinki. Car usage was not explained by wealth or by population density, but by decision making concerning town planning. Successful urban transport policies were dependent on strong regional and urban governments with the financial and administrative resources to make relatively independent decisions. Other groups, such as property developers are then more likely to align their plans with those for the city. Studies of areas of the cities differing in socioeconomic status showed that poverty and unemployment are exacerbated by poor public transport. Dublin emerged as the most socially segregated of the four cities. The middle class areas of all cities had the highest levels of household car ownership and the inner city the lowest levels. The responses of car-free people indicated that this was a result of poverty in Athens and Dublin, and of choice in Bologna and Helsinki where public transport is better and is used more. Car ownership and use was most common among middle-aged people. Dubliners had a more negative view of their public transport than citizens of the other cities studied. Helsinki had the best perception of its public transport. Modal split in the journey to work followed the expected trends. Lack of accessible shops increased the proportion of people in working class suburban Dublin using a car to obtain food. The walking quality of the cities is discussed. This paper was presented at a conference 'Urbanism and Suburbanism at the end of the Century' held at the National University of Ireland, Maynooth, 26-27 November 1999.

• Corporate Authors:

  NATIONAL UNIVERSITY OF IRELAND

  MAYNOOTH, COUNTY KILDARE  Ireland 
• Authors:
  • LOHAN, M
  • WICKHAM, J
• Publication Date: 1999

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: 25 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Accessibility; Age; Attitudes; Automobile ownership; City planning; Low income groups; Modal split; Public transit; Sociology; Urban areas; Vehicles
• Uncontrolled Terms: Carfree; Carless; Selection
• ITRD Terms: 9139: Accessibility; 1757: Age; 2267: Attitude (psychol); 345: Carfree; 316: Carless; 2281: Low income; 675: Modal split; 744: Public transport; 9072: Selection; 2253: Sociology; 354: Town planning; 313: Urban area; 1255: Vehicle
• Subject Areas: Public Transportation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00931592
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Oct 3 2002 12:00AM