European Commission publishes final report on transport poverty

The European Commission has published its final report from the study on transport poverty, titled Transport Poverty: Definitions, Indicators, Determinants, and Mitigation Strategies. Commissioned by DG EMPL, the report provides an in-depth analysis of transport poverty across Europe, focusing on its definition, measurement, and mitigation strategies.

The study identifies three main dimensions of transport poverty: availability, accessibility, and affordability, with adequacy as a cross-cutting element. The report highlights significant data gaps and inconsistencies. Key issues include outdated survey data, missing spatial data for accessibility, and unreliable transport expenditure figures in some datasets. It calls for better data collection and monitoring frameworks to fully understand the issue.

The study also explores nine preliminary indicators and finds that transport poverty affects not only rural areas but also urban peripheral areas and some denser urban centres, particularly among vulnerable groups. The report notes that 21% of households at risk of poverty face unaffordable transport costs.

In its policy analysis, the report emphasises the importance of national and local solutions tailored to specific contexts. It highlights the role of local authorities in addressing transport poverty, alongside EU strategies. 

Read the full report here. 

Author: Dearbhla Mullin

Views and opinions expressed are those of the author(s) and do not reflect those of the European Commission.