The bar chart illustrates the proportion of commuters in a European city who used four different modes of transport – bus, car, bike, and foot – for journeys to and from work in 1960, 1980, and 2000.
Overall, there was a dramatic shift in preferences over the 40-year period. Car usage experienced the most substantial growth, eventually becoming the dominant mode, while the popularity of more sustainable and active forms of transport – namely cycling and walking – declined markedly. Bus usage followed a fluctuating pattern.
In 1960, foot travel was the most common choice, accounting for approximately 35% of journeys, closely followed by bus at around 30%. Cycling stood at roughly 25%, whereas cars were the least favoured, representing only about 7% of commutes. By 1980, however, the trend had reversed considerably: car usage had surged to nearly 40%, overtaking other modes, while cycling and walking had fallen sharply to around 20% and 15% respectively. Bus ridership remained relatively stable at about 25%.
The most striking change occurred by 2000, when car usage peaked at over 35-40%, having quadrupled since 1960. In contrast, cycling plummeted to under 10%, and walking dropped to a mere 5-10%. Bus usage also declined noticeably to around 15-20%.
In summary, the period witnessed a clear preference for private motorised transport at the expense of environmentally friendlier and healthier alternatives, reflecting broader societal changes in urban mobility.