Investing in public transport does more than just cut traffic, it changes how people travel for the rest of their lives, according to a new study.
Researchers found young people with better access to public transport delay learning to drive and establish long-term green habits.
The study was carried out by the Behavioural Research Unit at the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI) in Dublin.
According to the study, 58 percent of people in areas with no public transport learn to drive by age 20.
In contrast, that percentage falls to 40 percent in areas with better access to buses, trams and trains.
The ESRI said that it shows that reliable public transport can act as a functional substitute for early car ownership.
Crucially, the benefits of this delay persist into adulthood, the researchers found.
Every year a person delays learning to drive predicts a 2 percent reduction in weekday distance driven later in life.
For example, a driver who learned at age 22 drives 1,561 fewer kilometres per year on weekdays than one who learned at 17. This saves over 260 kg of carbon dioxide emissions annually per petrol or diesel vehicle.
These findings, if replicated elsewhere, could have major implications for European climate policy.
Standard cost-benefit models for transport infrastructure often underestimate the long-term returns on investment by ignoring these life-course behavioural changes.
The research supports schemes like Ireland’s 50 percent fare reduction for young adults, Scotland’s free youth bus travel, and discounted monthly transit passes in Germany and Austria.
By making public transport highly attractive during formative years, Europe might be able to disrupt early car habit formation and accelerate road transport decarbonisation.
“Debates about transport policy generally focus on how public transport affects travel choices today,” said Dr Shane Timmons, Senior Research Officer at the ESRI and lead author of the study.
“Our findings suggest there may be important long-term benefits too. Investments in public transport today could have lasting effects in future years, reducing transport emissions and easing traffic congestion.”