A recent report by the European Commission highlights the varying levels of satisfaction with public transport in European cities, with a focus on capital cities. Overall, about seven out of 10 residents were satisfied with public transport in their city in 2023. However, there were significant differences in satisfaction levels between capitals, with Vienna leading at 91% and Rome and Tirana lagging at 29%. The satisfaction levels in cities also varied widely, with Zurich recording the highest at 95% and Palermo the lowest at 22%.
Northern and Western European cities generally reported higher satisfaction levels with public transport compared to Southern and Eastern European cities. Factors influencing satisfaction included affordability, safety, access, frequency, and reliability. Paris stood out as an exception, with lower perceptions of affordability despite high overall satisfaction levels.
Interestingly, while affordability did not strongly correlate with overall satisfaction, safety, accessibility, reliability, and frequency were significant factors. The report also showed that public transportation satisfaction levels were slightly higher in non-capital cities compared to capitals.
The European Commission is advocating for behavioral changes in favor of active mobility, public transport, and other clean transportation solutions to make public transport more attractive and efficient in the EU. A coalition of European transport organizations is calling for increased EU funding for public transport to improve services across the region.
Source
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