More or less travel: personal mobility trends in the Swedish population focusing gender and cohort

This study explores mainstream trends and countertrends in the development of spatial mobility in the Swedish population. Tracing incipient change in travel behaviour is important for understanding the preconditions for social and environmental sustainability. We use data from the Swedish national travel surveys, conducted intermittently over almost 30 years (1978–2006), covering both daily and long-distance mobility. International travel is included for the last decade. With respect to mainstream trends, the results primarily concern the continuation of the spatial extension of overall mobility and of the motorization and individualization of travel modes, as well as an upward convergence between women’s and men’s mobility. When it comes to countertrends, substantial reductions in daily mobility and long-distance domestic travel are observed among the young.

Graphical abstractMobility growth in the Swedish population, 1850–2006.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► Using data covering 30 years we explore long term changes in personal travel. ► Growth in everyday mobility has slowed and long-distance domestic travel stagnated. ► Due to recent increase in travel abroad overall mobility continues to grow rapidly. ► Cohort reductions in daily and long distance domestic travel found among the young. ► Women’s travel increased more rapidly than men’s – both daily and abroad.