Can transport related social exclusion be measured?: A review of existing German and UK practice

Abstract

Since the 1980’s, the concept of social exclusion has, and continues to attract considerable research interest and policy credence at a European level. The role of transport as a potential determinant in creating social exclusion is also well accepted and documented. However, whilst there appears to be a consensus on the various ways transport provision (or non-provision) can impact on social exclusion in terms of spatial, temporal, personal, psychological, cost and information barriers, as yet, there is no standardized methodology on how these indicators can be operationally measured. This paper begins by providing a brief overview of current understanding as to what social exclusion is and the role that transport plays as a causal factor. A detailed examination of how transport related social exclusion (TRSE) is currently measured in the UK and Germany is then presented, followed by a discussion of the main limitations in these approaches. Finally, we identify a need for a standardized methodology on how TRSE can be accurately measured at a local, national and European level in future surveys which will allow a full examination of the role of TRSE in determining social exclusion, and thus the most appropriate remedial solutions to be identified and implemented in order to reduce exclusion effects.