The Use and Efficiency of Public Transport : The Effects of Price and Service Measures

Abstract

Like in many other countries in the Netherlands, , the government of the Nethertlands assigns public transport an important role in its transport policy. However, the costs of public transport do exceed the revenues of it. Price may be an important variable to both increase the use of public transport and to improve the costs/benefits ratio. Unfortunately, little knowledge is available with regard to the effects of price measures. In the paper two questions are answered. First, the influence of price measures on the use of public transport, the costs/benefits ration and the modal split is discussed. Then, the change of structure in the Netherlands and its implications on the probability that price measures will be taken is described and discussed. It is concluded, that price does influence the demand for public transport. Besides, because of the financing system it seems less unlikely than desirable that regional/local authorities will implement price measures.