School Travel Habits in Budapest – Insights from a Pilot Study

As part of the UPPER project, BKK carried out a pilot study in autumn 2024 to better understand how students travel to school and what influences their mobility choices. The research combined an online questionnaire with awareness-raising activities, aiming not only to collect data but also to engage students in thinking about sustainable transport

The survey was conducted between late September and mid-October, resulting in 374 valid responses from four schools. While participation levels were lower than initially expected, the dataset proved detailed enough to reveal meaningful patterns and insights into student travel behaviour.

Before launching the pilot, special attention was given to selecting the most effective data collection methodology. Different approaches were carefully considered, particularly the comparison between in-person “hands-up” surveys and online questionnaires, evaluating them in terms of expected response rates and the usefulness of the collected data. Ultimately, the pilot relied primarily on an online survey complemented by targeted in-person engagement and awareness-raising activities, allowing the project team to assess both the efficiency and practical applicability of these methods for future large-scale data collection.

How Students Travel to School

The results show that students rely on a diverse mix of transport modes in their daily journeys. Car use remains the most dominant mode overall, particularly among younger students who depend on their parents. At the same time, public transport plays a major role, especially for older students, alongside walking and, to a lesser extent, cycling and micromobility.

Interestingly, when students were asked about their preferred way of travelling, a different picture emerged. Public transport became the most attractive option, and multimodal travel (combining different modes) also gained importance. In contrast, car use appeared less desirable than its current share suggests, indicating a clear openness toward more sustainable alternatives.

Changes Across Age Groups

Travel behaviour evolves significantly as students grow older. Younger children’s trips are largely shaped by parental decisions, often resulting in car-based travel or short walking distances. As students gain independence, their mobility patterns shift toward public transport and self-organised travel.

This transition highlights the importance of age-specific interventions: while improvements in safety and parental trust are key for younger students, service quality and system usability become increasingly relevant for teenagers.

 What Shapes Travel Decisions?

Students’ choices are primarily driven by practical considerations. The most frequently mentioned factors include:

• Distance between home and school
• Travel time and speed
• Comfort and convenience
• Perceived safety
• Parental influence

For public transport users in particular, accessibility (such as proximity of stops), affordability, and reliability play a crucial role.

These findings underline that mobility decisions are not purely based on preference, but are strongly shaped by constraints and everyday realities.

 Barriers to Sustainable Mobility

Despite the relatively strong position of public transport, students identified several issues that limit its attractiveness. The most critical concerns relate to crowding, frequency, and reliability.

The most frequently mentioned improvements include:

• Less crowded vehicles
• More frequent services
• Better punctuality
• Faster journeys
• More comfortable travel conditions
• Direct connections without transfers

In addition, qualitative feedback highlighted issues such as lack of cleanliness, discomfort in overcrowded vehicles, and insufficient personal space.

 Active Mobility: Cycling and Walking

Active modes such as cycling and walking are present but not dominant. Their use is strongly influenced by infrastructure and distance.

Students indicated that cycling would become more attractive if:

• Safe cycling infrastructure were available
• Dedicated bike lanes were expanded
• Secure parking or storage was ensured

Similarly, walking is mainly limited by distance, but also depends on urban environment quality and perceived safety.

 Digital Behaviour and Travel Planning

Another important finding is the growing role of digital tools in mobility decisions. Older students frequently use journey planners such as the BudapestGO app or Google Maps to organise their trips, while younger students still rely more on parental guidance.

This suggests that digitalisation is a key enabler of independent travel and should be further integrated into mobility services.

 Key Takeaways

Overall, the pilot study reveals a significant gap between current and preferred travel behaviour. While car use is still widespread, there is a clear willingness among students to shift toward more sustainable modes—especially public transport—if conditions improve.

The results also highlight that:

• Service quality matters as much as infrastructure
• Age plays a crucial role in shaping mobility patterns
• There is strong potential for behavioural change among young users
• Effective data collection requires stronger collaboration with schools

 

Looking Ahead

The findings confirm that school-related travel is a critical component of urban mobility in Budapest, both in terms of volume and long-term impact. By better understanding students’ needs and expectations, transport planners can design more targeted interventions that not only improve current systems but also shape future travel habits toward sustainability.