Research from the Social Market Foundation has revealed that 8% of the British population, equating to 5 million people, are being pushed into poverty due to the cost of transportation.
The study found that the median British household spends over £5,650 a year on car usage, with limited alternatives available, especially in rural areas. SMF has offered long-term strategies for tackling this issue, however experts have pointed to lift-sharing as an immediate solution.
Liftshare, the UK & Ireland’s largest car-sharing platform, has estimated that its participants save on average £1034 a year. Commuter Census data from Mobilityways has shown that car-sharing is on the rise, with a 5% year-on-year increase.
Millie Botting, Mobilityways’ commutologist, said “There is, however, an indication that people are starting to move away from driving alone, to more affordable and sustainable modes of transport.”
The Commuter Census revealed that 43% of respondents travelled to work in a car alone, and a further 4% in an electric vehicle. This is a slight increase from the Government’s 2021 Census, in which 45.1% of commuters drove to work.
Liftshare Community Manager, Amy Young, stated that “The increasingly prohibitive cost of car ownership is certainly a factor in the number of additional people trying lift-sharing. Drivers can cut the cost of their journey by half, or more if they take extra passengers.”
The platform is free to join and enables members to add regular or one-off trips, as well as to arrange payment between drivers and passengers. The Liftshare Savings Calculator can also be used to determine how much can be saved through lift-sharing.
On Monday 20 November, the Social Market Foundation (SMF) released data showing that 5 million people in Britain (8% of the population) are being driven into poverty due to the high costs associated with transportation.
Cars are the most expensive mode of transport, with the median British household spending over £5,650 annually. This leaves many people with limited alternatives, particularly those living in rural areas, and thus forcing them into costly car ownership.
In response to the findings, the SMF has provided long-term recommendations for tackling transport poverty. However, experts have identified car-sharing as an immediate solution to drastically reduce driving costs.
The UK & Ireland’s largest car-sharing platform, Liftshare, reported an average annual savings of £1034 for its members. This is supported by the Commuter Census data from Mobilityways, which showed a 5% year-on-year increase for car-sharing.
Millie Botting, Mobilityways’ commutologist, said “There is, however, an indication that people are starting to move away from driving alone, to more affordable and sustainable modes of transport.”
Liftshare Community Manager, Amy Young, added “The increasingly prohibitive cost of car ownership is certainly a factor in the number of additional people trying lift-sharing. Drivers can cut the cost of their journey by half, or more if they take extra passengers.”
The platform is free for members to add regular or one-off trips, and arrange payment between drivers and passengers. The Liftshare Savings Calculator can also be used to calculate the amount that can be saved through lift-sharing.
