Research by the Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency (PBL) has revealed that travelling by car in the Netherlands is always faster than using public transport or a bicycle. Even during rush hour traffic, getting to and from work, school or the hospital by driving will have a shorter journey time than any other mode of transport.
Due to cuts in public transport, amenities and jobs have become less accessible to residents in the Netherlands since 2012. Many people in rural areas and on the outskirts of Dutch cities have less access to hospitals, schools, pharmacies, supermarkets and other facilities important for day-to-day activities.
According to the PBL, 30 percent of the elderly aren’t able to get to a hospital or clinic within 30 minutes, while 12 percent cannot reach care within 45 minutes. The younger generation is also affected by declining accessibility of public transport as up to 17 percent of children spend more than 30 minutes cycling to school every day.
Car ownership has also become increasingly necessary to get to work in the Netherlands, especially among those with lower-income jobs. These types of jobs tend to be located in areas that are harder to reach by bus or train, making it difficult to reach without a car.
PBL researcher Jeroen Bastiaanssen questions whether the government realises that 25 percent of Dutch households do not own their own cars. "And if you do not have a car, your travel time is really considerably longer than if you can get in the car, even during rush hour,” he told NOS Radio 1 Journaal. “And then you see that low incomes in particular suffer from this. And young people who cannot drive a car at all."
A reduction in public transport isn’t the only problem, as many facilities have disappeared from smaller areas, which means people have to travel further to go to the local school or supermarket. To reach these facilities, people often use bicycles more often but it’s important to note that this option is not possible for everyone.
Bastiaanssen states that the level of accessibility that is considered acceptable is a political choice. According to him, three things can be done to maintain and improve accessibility in the Netherlands. “Investing in the public transport and cycling network is obvious, especially in places where many people have been affected by the reduced accessibility,” suggested Bastiaanssen.
Another suggestion is to use locations near city centres and public transport hubs more efficiently by adding more facilities and workspaces. “Housing construction at such locations can also offer high accessibility and connect to the existing public transport and cycling infrastructure,” said the PBL researcher.
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