Sharp increase in second and third family cars
Trend worries advocates of public transport
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One in three Finnish households have two or more cars. The use of a second car has increased considerably in the past ten years - especially on the outskirts of cities.
According to a national study on personal transport, second family cars are the main reason for the overall increase in the number of cars in Finland; there has not been a significant decrease in the number of households with no motor vehicles at all.
More than half of households living in detached houses in the Tampere region have two cars or more, according to a study by the Tampere University of Technology. Special researcher Hanna Kalenoja says that the situation is fairly similar in outlying areas of all growth centres.
"This is the latest trend in the spread of vehicles. The proliferation of second cars has been very rapid", Kalenoja says.
She attributes the surge in second cars to rising household income, and to the increased desire of people to move from inner cities to more spacious accommodation in the suburbs.
Kalenoja feels that the increasing number of households with two or more cars is the most worrying trend in the proliferation of vehicles.
Families with just one car still make use of public transport, and they cycle and walk a fair amount. Kalenoja calculates that if there are two cars, cycling and use of public transport decline by about 50 per cent. The kilometres that are driven increase by about 75 per cent.
"After the acquisition of a second vehicle, nearly all of a family's trips are made by car. The adults in a family use their own cars separately, and trips are no longer planned together", she adds.
"If there are two cars, the children are driven from one place to another."
Kalenoja asserts that the trend could be stopped if people would accept public transport as an alternative to a second car.
"It would be good if people would choose where they live based on the availability of public transport. It would be a big economic relief to a family if a second car would not be needed."
Public transport should be functional in the outskirts of a city already before families start car-shopping.
"In residential areas, where everyone already has two cars, it is not possible to establish a viable public transport line, because there would not be enough passengers."
In addition to public transport, urban planning would need to see to it that services are kept nearby. Local grocery stores and nearby schools are especially important.
"Taking children to school by car is a very bad thing. There can be hundreds of extra cars driving in areas near a school in the mornings and evenings. It is a traffic safety hazard."
Kalenoja notes that cars also affect the physical well-being of children. "They are not able to move around their neighbourhoods on their own."
Helsingin Sanomat
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| 23.5.2007 - TODAY |
 Sharp increase in second and third family cars |
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