In the context of the Mobisitie project, the research agency Newcom recently conducted research on commuting and sustainable mobility in the northern regions of the Netherlands. For the 2024 mobility monitor, Newcom surveyed a group of Dutch people on this topic in January for the third time since 2020. In total, they surveyed 6,035 respondents, representing a representative sample of the Dutch population aged 18 and older. For Mobisitie, they produced a report focusing on mobility in the North, with 641 respondents coming from the northern provinces of Friesland, Groningen, and Drenthe.
Car as the primary mode of transport
The study emphasizes the continued dominance of cars as the primary mode of transport but also points to significant potential for alternatives. According to the study, 63% of commuters in the North use the car for their daily trips. A quarter of these drivers are open to considering other modes of transport. The likelihood of switching to another mode of transport is higher in urban areas than in non-urban areas.
The study categorizes commuters into three groups: “Opportunists” (25%), “Doubters” (27%), and “Inaccessible” (48%). Opportunists see and consider alternatives to car traffic. Doubters recognize alternatives but rarely or never consider them, while the Inaccessible neither see nor consider alternatives.
The potential of shared transport and public transport
Awareness and use of shared transport are on the rise in Northern Netherlands. Convenience and attachment to personal ownership remain the biggest obstacles to embracing shared transport. For Opportunists, factors such as cost savings, flexibility, and speed are important triggers for using shared transport.
Respondents cite cost, travel time, convenience, and distance to the stop as the biggest barriers to using public transport. Especially in non-urban areas, distance to the stop is a significant barrier. Despite these challenges, shared transport and public transport offer significant potential as alternatives to cars, both in urban and non-urban areas.
Mobisitie
The researchers of the Mobisitie project aim to integrate the findings from the mobility monitor into the Policy Decision Support System (PDSS/”BKSS”) that they will deliver for the three participating municipalities.
View the infographic for more detailed insights and figures from the study.
