17-year-olds choose cars over buses in North Jutland

North Jutland’s public transport company expects to be short of 60 million kroner next year as fewer young people use buses, DR reports. The number of youth travel cards has fallen by around 12 per cent, with 17-year-olds increasingly choosing to drive instead.

Bertel Mellergaard Sørensen travels from his home in Borregaard to Himmerland Business and Upper Secondary School in Aars. By car, the journey takes about 20 minutes. By bus, it takes around an hour.

“I used to spend 10 hours a week on buses. Now I can drive and use that time for something more sensible,” he says.

Jakob Skifter Larsen, from Havndal, also usually drives to school in Aars, a journey of about 50 kilometres. Taking the bus would take more than two hours and require several changes.

“I would have to get up very early. It is simply a bit better by car, because public transport has never really appealed to me,” he says.

Both boys are 17. Since last summer, 17-year-olds have been allowed to drive alone. During the same period, use of youth travel cards in North Jutland has fallen by about 12 per cent, according to North Jutland’s public transport company.

Young people receiving state educational support in rural municipalities have also gained a higher mileage deduction. The two changes are among the reasons the company expects to lack 60 million kroner for public transport next year, director Thomas Øster says.

“It is a significant decline. If we lose young people because they choose cars, it will harm us both in the short and long term,” he says.

Bertel Mellergaard Sørensen says he cannot see what would persuade him to return to the bus.

“It would have to be much cheaper, preferably free. But in general, time is the most important thing for me,” he says.