People who grow up in areas with better access to public transport and who learn to drive later in life rely less on cars when they are older, according to a new study by the Economic and Social Research Institute.
The report, carried out by the ESRI’s Behaviour Research Unit and funded by the Department of Transport, suggests investment in public transport has long-term benefits for congestion and the environment.
The study surveyed a nationally representative sample of more than 2,000 people aged 16 and over.
The results showed that people living in areas with better public transport tend to learn to drive at older ages.
The ESRI said: “At age 20, 60% of people living in areas that lack public transport have learned to drive, compared with just 40% in areas with good access.”
It added that: “A five-year delay in learning to drive is linked to driving 1,500 kilometres less annually.”
The study found that improving public transport in underserved areas may generate long-term reductions in car use by reducing the pressure to get a driving licence.
It also said that the findings showed that lowering barriers to public transport for young people by using reduced fares and frequent and reliable services had enduring effects on driving behaviour.
It said: “The results are thus consistent with policies such as the 50% reduction in fares associated with the Young Adult TFI Leap Card in Ireland, free bus travel for under 22-year-olds in Scotland and discounted monthly passes for young people in Germany and Austria.”
It said that the study had implications for planning and land use.
“Planning for higher-density, mixed-use environments with viable transport alternatives not only provides public transport access in the present but may also yield environmental benefits that extend well beyond the immediate catchment area,” the ESRI said.