New research suggests people’s political party preferences strongly influence their views on transport initiatives such as bicycle lanes or creating spaces for electric vehicle charging points.
The University of Bath study of 2,500 British people found that support for state welfare measures bridges party divides, and they say that might offer a clue on how to make environmentally friendly transport initiatives palatable across the political spectrum.
“Green transport initiatives – and particularly the bicycle – have become highly politicised and the subject of often vicious debate, which is remarkable when you consider that research in the 1970s offered hope that environmentalism might be a non-partisan issue, uniting parties in supporting climate conservation,” said Dr Joanna Syrda of the School of Management.
“This study shows that political party preference is the single most important predictor in determining public support for new cycle lanes, parking spaces for electric car charging points, and building car parks to introduce more park and ride routes – and nobody will be surprised to hear that Green Party voters welcome new bicycle lanes more than Reform supporters, for example,” she said.
“However, one of the most striking results of the study of people’s attitudes was the role played by welfarism – a measure of people’s support for state welfare programmes. I identified that people who are well disposed towards welfare initiatives also are more supportive of sustainable transport measures – and that cuts across traditional left-right orientation and political party lines,” Dr Syrda said.
The study suggests welfarism is the strongest factor in predicting support for local council spending to improve existing public transport, narrowing roads to widen pavements and creating pedestrianised high streets, and the second-strongest factor in support for allocating parking spaces to electric charging points, building car parks to introduce more park-and-ride routes, and new cycle lanes.
Dr Syrda said the association between support for welfare and support for green transport offered a strategic entry point for policymakers, who should be reassured that political allegiances and support for green transport might not necessarily be in opposition, particularly as trends suggest that support for welfare has been increasing since 2010.
“If that trend continues, it may positively influence public backing for sustainable transport. For example, a transport campaign that links sustainability with securing workers’ rights and livelihoods, such as those promoting a ‘just transition’ may just resonate with the public, beyond their political party preference,” she said.
(File picture – Bikeability Trust)
