Various studies into the travel behaviour of ethnic minorities have shown that many of the differences between ethnic minorities and the native Dutch community can be attributed to socio-demographic, socio-economic and spatial characteristics of these different groups.
The reasons why ethnic minorities tend to cycle less, why Turkish and Moroccan men are more frequent car users and why women of Moroccan, Surinamese and Antillean origin are relatively frequent users of public transport have not yet been fully explained. This study examined whether these differences can be explained by socio-cultural factors such as the status and image of the various means of transport and the extent to which these differences in travel behaviour are likely to persist in the future.
The most important conclusions are the following:
• The low bicycle use is largely determined by the image of the bicycle, the sense of road unsafety and a lack of cycling experience.
• The car is considered to be a status symbol and a sign to others of individual achievement in the Netherlands. This can explain why especially Turkish and Moroccan men use the car so often.
• Public transport is predominantly used for practical reasons.
• Differences in travel behaviour are expected to lessen in the future but are likely to persist for several decades.

Low bicycle use determined by the image of the bicycle, sense of road
unsafety and cycling proficiency.
The Netherlands is a nation of cyclists. This culture is lacking within the ethnic minority community and this explains why the use of bicycles is significantly lower. Ethnic minorities attribute different values to the bicycle. It has a lower status for many Turkish and Moroccan people and is something that many would prefer not to be associated with. In addition, many ethnic minorities and especially women of the first generation lack cycling proficiency and the confidence to cycle in the Netherlands. Cycling is considered to be unsafe, and people are reluctant to ride a bike. The fear of road accidents is one of the reasons why many ethnic minority women prefer their children not to cycle to school.

The car as status symbol and social means of transport
For many Turkish and Moroccan men, owning a car is highly valued and the type of car is also an important factor. Within the ethnic minority community, it is important to demonstrate that one has achieved something in Dutch society and the car is a key way to do this. Those who own cars also tend to use them as much as possible.
Car driving creates a feeling of independence and freedom.For many in the Turkish, Moroccan, Surinamese and Antillean communities, it is considered to be a social obligation to travel together with family, friends and acquaintances. This tendency to use the car to ‘collect and drop off’ is particularly marked among the ethnic minority community.

Public transport particularly used for practical reasons
The differences in public transport use cannot be clearly explained in socio-cultural terms. The relatively high use of public transport among ethnic minority women can best be explained by the fact that they are less likely to have a car and by their fear of cycling or inability to do so. For this reason, public transport is predominantly used for practical reasons.

Differences likely to persist for decades
By 2020, the ethnic minority community will have grown further and especially the share of first- and second-generation ethnic minorities relative to the total population. With a share of 7,1% in 2007 and 8,0% in 2020, the increase of the ethnic minority will not lead to an immediate change in travel behaviour. However, changes in the living situation are likely to have an impact on mobility. The differences in travel behaviour are likely to become less pronounced as ethnic minorities adapt their behaviour in line with the rest of society becauseof the improved integration.
However, part of the differences are likely to persist for decades. Car ownership is expected to increase further as a result of the improved socio-economic position of ethnic minorities (increased participation in the workforce, higher educational achievement). This is likely to contribute to the car becoming even more dominant in the future, especially within the Turkish and Moroccan community. Also, the cultural attitude towards the car will persist and the car will continue to be an important status symbol. It is more difficult to estimate how bicycle use will develop in the future. As more and more people in the ethnic minority community grow up with the bicycle, its use is expected to increase. Many people will nevertheless continue to see the bicycle as a second-rate means of transport that is both unsafe and unsuitable for use in poor weather conditions. For this reason, the differences in bicycle use between the ethnic minority community and the rest of society are likely to persist into the future.

Policy implications
As a result of this study, the Netherlands Institute for Transport Policy Analysis (KiM) listed a number of possible policy measures. The effects of these measures are not examined and the policy implications are an estimation of the KiM. The following measures can contribute towards a reduction in the differences in travel behaviour:
• Encouraging bicycle use among ethnic minorities can reduce differences in travel behaviour. Cycling lessons have enabled increasing numbers of ethnic minorities, especially women, to learn to cycle. As these cyclists grow in confidence and experience and are less deterred by the fear of danger on the roads, the differences should decrease further.
• Cycling campaigns and school cycling lessons can increase the use of bicycles among schoolchildren and secure a more positive image of road safety.

In addition to specific measures aimed at bicycle use among ethnic minorities, the differences in travel behaviour can also be reduced by existing measures. Examples include:
• Discouraging car use by, for example, creating car-free zones in the areas around schools, so that it is safer to cycle to school.
• Stimulating bicycle use by improving traffic light coordination for cyclists, increasing the number of separate cycle paths in the major cities and providing better facilities for bicycle storage. These measures will increase the bicycle use and ensure that ethnic minorities feel safer while cycling.
• Increased use of More one-way roads in the major cities and improved enforcement of speed limits can discourage car use.
• Increasing the cost of parking can also encourage ethnic minorities – and the native Dutch community– to cycle or use public transport more often to reach the city centre. Another way in which pricing policy can discourage car use is by making the cost of driving dependent on various factors such as place, time and vehicle type.
• Providing season tickets, even on a temporary basis, for people moving house can have a positive impact on the use of public transport for commuting to and from work.