Credit: Statec

According to a report published by STATEC, Luxembourg's national statistical office, 69% of workers still use their car to get to work; however, the figures are very different when looking at those who live in or close to Luxembourg city compared to those who live further out. 

The car remains largely predominant…

Luxembourg is one of the European countries with the highest car ownership rate per capita (678 per 1,000 inhabitants according to Eurostat in 2022). As in many other Western countries, urbanisation has developed in parallel with the rise of the automobile and the expansion of the road network, creating a snowball effect reinforcing dependence on the car.

In 2021, the car remains largely the preferred mode of travel to work for more than two out of three workers (around 67% as a driver, to which must be added 2.2% as a passenger). Public transport accounts for the largest part of the remaining third, i.e. more than 11% of employed workers mainly using the bus, followed by the train with less than 5% and then the tram (less than 2%), the use of which as a main mode remains limited given its small geographical extension. Soft modes are the main mode of transport for 12% of workers and are shared between walking (nearly 10%) and cycling (more than 3%).

From a methodological point of view, it is also important to note the emergence of new modes of transport, such as the tram, the scooter or the electric bicycle, which were not present or less developed in 2011.

… but its use is declining in Luxembourg City and surrounding areas

Between 2011 and 2021, the share of cars for home-work journeys decreased from 72.3% to 69.3%, a decline offset by increasing use of walking and cycling (from 8.4% to 12.7%). On the other hand, the use of public transport remained stable at 17.6%, despite an improvement in the supply and free public transport. In Luxembourg City, in particular, the proportion of working people using cars fell sharply, from 54% to 37%, a level comparable to that of Paris. The surrounding municipalities also saw a decline, thanks to a better supply of public transport and the arrival of new residents preferring other modes of transport. In contrast, in the north and near the borders, car use has increased, particularly in Troisvierges and Keispelt, possibly due to the distance of new housing from public transport.

Finally, less than 20% of employed workers use at least two modes of transport to get to their place of work: the bus comes first for 30.4% of workers using several modes of transport, followed by walking (24.1%) and the train (15.2%). The bus and especially the train are generally supplemented by walking. The car is still widely used, at 14.3%, ahead of the bicycle (9.5%) and the tram (4.6%)