A study by the think tank found that transport costs take up twice the share of income for the least well-off.
IPPR research found that poor public transport across the UK is leaving more people dependent on cars than ever before – even when it places serious strain on household budgets.
A report by the think tank warned that the UK’s transport system is deepening poverty and social exclusion, leaving low-income households cut off from jobs, services and opportunities.
The IPPR found that transport costs are fuelling the cost-of-living crisis. Its analysis found that the average UK household spends £87 per week on transport. This rises to £108 if they own a car, but falls to £13 for non-car owners.
According to the IPPR, even though the poorest travel much less than the richest, they spend twice as much of their income on trains, buses, cars and bikes compared to the richest. The poorest fifth of households spend 18% of their income on transport, compared to 11% on average, and 9% for the richest.
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The researchers of the report say that the high cost of train tickets, poor bus provision and inadequate links to public transport make much of the UK population reliant on owning a car, even when it comes at a great cost.
Previous research shows that those living in more deprived or more ethnically diverse areas are offered car insurance premiums around 15-20% higher to insure the same driver in the same car.
Becca Massey-Chase, principal research fellow at IPPR, said: “Too many people are locked out of opportunity because the transport system simply doesn’t work for them. Parents are out of work, kids are late to school, and medical appointments are missed – not because people are unwilling, but because the buses don’t turn up or the cost of a journey is unaffordable.
“If the Government is serious about tackling poverty, it must fix local transport. That means cheaper, more reliable services – designed with and for the people who rely on them most.”
Ruth Talbot, founder of Single Parent Rights, said: “This report highlights what single parents have long known: reliable, affordable transport is a lifeline, not a luxury. When it works well, it makes the challenges of family life with one income and one pair of hands manageable. Without it, single-parent families are excluded from communities, services and employment opportunities.
“Through their research, IPPR have identified viable solutions to ensure UK transport policy meets the needs of single-parent families. We hope the UK Government will make these a priority and consider the specific needs and realities of single-parent families as they implement them.”
