Here in London I try and cycle to work as much as possible.  It's generally quicker than public transport plus of course the saving of around £25 a week is not to be sniffed at.  It's noticeable that there are more and more cyclists joining me on the commute to work, especially now the weather is improving.  New research suggests that this is not confined to the UK, especially amongst the young.

The research shows that youngsters in the U.S., Canada, Germany, South Korea, and other countries are driving less, and cycling or using public transport in significantly higher numbers.

Here are some key stats from the report:

• Driving is down: The number of vehicle miles traveled by 16 to 34-year-olds in the U.S. dropped 23% between 2001 and 2009. As well, the share of 14 to 34-year-olds without driver’s licenses grew between 2001 and 2010 from 21% to 26%.
• Biking is up: In 2009, 16 to 34-year-olds in the U.S. took 24% more bike trips than in 2001 – even with that age group shrinking in size by 2%.
• Public Transport is up: Public transport use by that same group also rose in the same period — passenger miles traveled are up by a huge 40%.

Interesting isn't it?  In a wide spread of developed countries, from the UK to South Korea, the number of young people either without driving licenses or with them but not driving so much was rising fast.

The report offers the following suggestions as to why this is so:

• It’s easier to use a phone when you’re not driving. “Public transportation is more compatible with a lifestyle based on mobility and peer-to-peer connectivity than driving,” notes the study.
• Environmental commitment. In a KRC Zipcar survey, 16% of 18 to 34-year-olds said they strongly agreed with the statement, “I want to protect the environment, so I drive less.” Only about 9% of older generations said the same thing.
• Bike-sharing programs are more available. Technology “makes bike-sharing programs possible and convenient,” says the study. In just the past two years, at least nine U.S. cities have launched bike-sharing services, including Boston, Chicago, New York, and Washington D.C, whilst of course Boris Bikes are very popular in London.
• Car-sharing programs are also on the rise. Says the report: “Technology has also led to the creation of transportation options that did not exist 15 or 20 years ago. With car-sharing services such as Zipcar, for example, the Internet and smart phone applications allow users to reserve, pay for and locate cars easily, at any time of the day.”

They are at pains to state that this isn't merely a trend amongst the unemployed, who you would expect not to travel as much.  They noted the same trend amongst the employed young as well.

With many more young people choosing to not have or use a car, how long before transport policy catches up?