Public Transport Satisfaction: Southern Europe vs. Northern Europe Insights

Public transport plays a significant role in how residents feel about their cities. A recent European Commission report examined public transport satisfaction in 83 cities, gathering responses from over 71,000 people. In 2023, about 70% of residents expressed general satisfaction with their public transport systems.

However, a disparity exists. Satisfaction rates vary widely among capitals. For example, only 29% of people in Rome and Tirana are satisfied, while 91% are satisfied in Vienna. The range is even broader in other cities, with satisfaction levels from 22% in Palermo to 95% in Zurich.

Northern and Western European cities report higher satisfaction with public transport. Cities like Helsinki, Oslo, and Stockholm show satisfaction rates above 85%. Reykjavik, however, has a lower satisfaction rate of 56%. More than half of residents in several capitals, including Rome and Belgrade, are dissatisfied with their transport services.

Affordability is a key factor in satisfaction. Perceptions of affordability among capitals vary, with only 48% of residents in Riga finding public transport affordable compared to 93% in Tallinn. Nordic cities, while scored high in overall satisfaction, received lower marks for affordability.

In Rome, only 45% of residents believe public transport is safe, the lowest among capitals. Paris also reported lower safety perceptions, with 71% of residents feeling secure using public transport. The report indicates that many EU candidate capitals also scored low on safety, access, frequency, and reliability.

Interestingly, non-capital cities reported slightly higher satisfaction levels (73%) compared to capitals (69%). Nine out of the bottom ten cities in satisfaction with public transport are in Southern Europe and the Balkans. Turkey similarly has low satisfaction scores at 59%.

Within some countries, satisfaction levels vary significantly. For instance, 67% of residents in both Paris and Marseille are satisfied, while satisfaction in Lille is 84% and in Strasbourg, it reaches 87%. In Romania, Cluj-Napoca has an 83% satisfaction rate compared to just 54% in Bucharest.

The report found a weak correlation between affordability perception and overall satisfaction. However, strong correlations exist between overall satisfaction and factors such as safety, accessibility, reliability, and frequency. As residents perceive public transport as safer and more reliable, their satisfaction increases.

The European Commission aims to make public transport more attractive and efficient, promoting active mobility and clean transport solutions. A coalition of transport organizations is advocating for increased EU funding for public transport.