The line graph illustrates how traffic levels in the Netherlands changed across four modes of transport between 1950 and 2000.
Overall, it is clear that car usage increased dramatically and became the dominant mode of transport throughout the period. In contrast, the other three categories – train, bicycle, and other public transport – experienced relatively modest but steady growth.
At the beginning of the period, all four modes stood at or near 0%. Car usage then rose gradually to around 20% in 1960, before increasing sharply to approximately 100% by 1980. It continued to grow at a slower pace, reaching about 140% in 2000, making it by far the most significant form of transport.
Meanwhile, train usage increased steadily from 0% in 1950 to roughly 10% in 1970, followed by a gradual rise to around 20% by the end of the period. Similarly, bicycle traffic showed a consistent upward trend, climbing from 0% to approximately 15-17% in 2000. Other public transport remained the least used throughout, although it also rose gradually from 0% to about 10% over the fifty-year period.
In conclusion, car traffic experienced a substantial surge and far outpaced all other modes, while the remaining forms of transport grew steadily but at a much slower rate.