With the Car-Free Generation
Working Together on Sustainable Mobility Choices for Young People
On behalf of the Municipality of Maastricht and the Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO), Zuid-Limburg Bereikbaar is implementing the innovative Car-Free Generation project from 2023 to 2026. This project focuses on proactively preventing car use among young people. It targets significant life events, such as transitioning to a new school, starting an internship, or beginning a first job. These moments often give rise to new travel behavior.
Why This Project?
Research indicates that youths often have a predetermined notion of their "mobility future," viewing progression from bicycle to scooter and eventually to car as a natural trajectory. Social influences play a substantial role; for instance, parents may reward their children with driving lessons or finance a scooter, fatbike, or car, leading to early entrenchment of car usage habits.
The Car-Free Generation project seeks to encourage sustainable transportation choices among young people, such as cycling or using public transit, aiming to delay or prevent the shift to car usage before such habits become ingrained.
Progress to Date
Following an in-depth research phase examining life-changing events, motivations, and resistances within various target groups, the project has identified optimal times and audiences for intervention. Collaborations with institutions like Bonnefanten College and VISTA College have provided insights into when youths consider new transportation options and how these decisions are shaped.
Key findings include:
- Early Decision-Making: Many 14- and 15-year-olds already have clear preferences for future modes of transport, viewing the transition to a scooter or car as a given.
- Environmental Influence: Parents and peers significantly impact transportation choices, often reinforcing the move towards motorized vehicles.
In 2025, the first incentive actions have been launched. We are monitoring these actions to see what works and how we can best reach young people.
Next Steps
The project is now developing targeted interventions to promote sustainable mobility among youths, focusing on critical life transitions to instill long-term environmentally friendly travel habits.
