Transport Poverty, a public health issue

This briefing describes a multidimensional definition of transport poverty developed in collaboration with health and transport experts. It outlines the causes of transport poverty within and beyond the transport system and details how transport poverty can influence health and health inequalities.

The purpose of this document is to inform discussion and shape future policy, action and evaluation to ensure the causes of transport poverty are addressed and that there are more equitable transport options for all. This is important to reduce transport poverty and mitigate the harm it can cause to health and wellbeing.

This briefing is for policy-makers and decision-makers in the transport sector; planners and managers at all levels in local authorities; and other community planning partners including health and social care and third-sector organisations.

Key recommendations

• Support action and planning across sectors to help reduce transport poverty.
• Transport poverty is multidimensional, therefore a single measure to identify and monitor transport poverty is not appropriate.
• Five dimensions of Transport poverty:
  • • Safety
    • Availability
    • Reliability
    • Affordability
    • Accessibility
• People on lower incomes identify transport as a key concern and report that balancing their budget requires them to adjust transport modes (e.g. walking longer distances, travelling off-peak, relying on social networks or not travelling at all)
• On average, disabled people make fewer and shorter trips than people who are not disabled.
• In Scotland, there is notable gender disparity regarding safety and active travel issues.
• Transport poverty is an important problem that can have knock-on effects to health inequalities and the causes include but also go beyond simply the transport sector.