Study on the social dimension of the transport system regarding users and passengers

A report has been published, presenting the findings of the study on the social dimension of the future EU transport system regarding users and passengers. This study maps the challenges and opportunities posed by the modernisation of the system to different groups of transport users in terms of affordability, reliability and accessibility. The European Pillar of Social Rights places transport among the essential services to which everyone has the right to access (Principle 20). It stresses that such services should be of good quality and that support for access – intended in broad terms – shall be available for those in need.

Different groups of people have different needs as transport users, and it is important to ensure that the transport system is inclusive and available to all. The study provides valuable insights into the challenges faced by different user groups and across different Member States and presents recommendations on how these may be tackled. In particular, the study considers six user groups:

• women;
• citizens with poor IT literacy or with limited access to the internet;
• persons with disabilities and with reduced mobility (e.g. older people);
• people living in remote areas (notably rural areas), segregated localities or in less developed regions;
• young people and children;
• people on low income, at risk of poverty or social exclusion.

The policy-oriented recommendations are grouped into four themes:

1. Improving coordination;
2. Building knowledge and evidence;
3. Integrating the social dimension when reviewing existing practice; and
4. Providing resources.

Overall, the study stresses that, despite increasing recognition that equity and inclusion are important in the context of transport, steps have to be taken to ensure that the social dimension of transport from the perspective of users forms an integral dimension of the design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes in all political, economic and societal spheres so that different user groups benefit equally and inequality is not perpetuated.

To read and download the final report, see here.

To see the executive summary, see here.