The data from the Mobility and Transport Microcensus provides opportunities for additional in-depth analyses in the area of spatial and transport planning.
In addition to producing the final reports of the surveys, the Federal Office for Spatial Development ARE performs further analyses of the Mobility and Transport Microcensus (MTMC) data in cooperation with other federal offices or with consultants.
Regional differences
The nature of our mobility varies depending on where we live, and the areas through which we travel. The Mobility and Transport Microcensus permits an analysis of mobility in the agglomerations and in Switzerland's more rural areas. Analyses were also conducted on the basis of population density where people live.
In 2015, 73% of the Swiss population lived in one of the country's agglomerations. Between 2010 and 2015, the combined modal share of public and non-motorised transport in the agglomerations rose from 35% to 36%. However, private motorised transport remains agglomeration residents’ primary means of getting around.
Among peri-urban communes, the modal share accounted for by non-motorised transport declines significantly if population density is low. Those living in peri-urban areas cover the longest daily distances of any of the categories of urban or rural area, and thus travel further even than the population of peripheral rural areas. The high distances travelled are not explained by long commutes alone, but also by longer average distances when going shopping, pursuing leisure activities, or acting as driver for someone else.
If the quality of the public transport service is the same, German-speaking regions systematically stand out with much higher modal shares of public transport than in French-speaking or in Italian-speaking part of Switzerland.
For some reports, additional data are available via the index tab «Data», see below.
Documents
This study shows the role of public transportation, the factors influencing mode choice and the reasons of the unequal importance of public transport in different regions of Switzerland (only available in French or in German).
Dichte und Mobilitätsverhalten (PDF, 2 MB, 21.08.2018)This report is a mobility behaviour analysis according to various density indicators around places of residence based on the Mobility and Transport Microcensus from 2015 and 2010 (in German, also exist in French).
Mobilität in den ländlichen Räumen: Schlussbericht (PDF, 6 MB, 01.03.2018)This report studies the daily mobility of the Swiss residential population in different types of rural areas based particularly on the Mobility and Transport Microcensus from various years (in German, Abstract in French an in Italian).
Modalsplit in den Agglomerationen, Ergebnisse 2015 (PDF, 1 MB, 29.05.2018)This report examines the modal share in Switzerland’s agglomerations according to the two principles of «place of residents” and “territoriality” (in German).
Mobilität in den ländlichen Räumen 2010 (PDF, 7 MB, 01.09.2016)Untersucht wird die Mobilität der schweizerischen Wohnbevölkerung in den verschiedenen Arten von ländlichen Räumen. Dieser Bericht stützt sich auf die Daten des Mikrozensus Mobilität und Verkehr bis 2010.
Faktenblatt Agglomerationsverkehr 2010 (PDF, 529 kB, 06.11.2014)Dieses Merkblatt erläutert den Modalsplit in den Agglomerationen anhand der Daten des Mikrozensus Mobilität und Verkehr bis 2010.
Auswirkungen von verkehrsintensiven Einrichtungen auf das Verkehrsverhalten (PDF, 401 kB, 09.04.2009)Dieser Bericht analysiert verkehrsintensive Einrichtungen. Als Grundlage dienen die Daten des Mikrozensus Mobilität und Verkehr 2005.
Faktenblatt Zweitwohnungen (PDF, 611 kB, 07.04.2009)Gegenstand dieses Berichts sind die Zweitwohnungen. 8,5 % der Schweizer Haushalte besitzen in Eigentum oder in Miete eine Zweitwohnung.
Data
Mobility for leisure
Leisure is the main reason for travelling for the Swiss resident population. Unlike other reasons for travelling (work, education, shopping, etc.), distances and travel time for leisure in Switzerland have slightly decreased during the last years. However, distances travelled abroad for leisure are clearly following an opposite trend.
Cars are predominant in leisure traffic for almost all activities. Although the number of trips became more frequent, what is more important is the fact that these trips cover farther distances. This strong growth is based on the increasing importance of air traffic.
Population groups
Mobility patterns vary depending on the population group concerned, be they seniors or commuters.
The principal report on the 2015 Mobility and Transport Microcensus (MTMC) provides information on mobility patterns according to age group, professional circumstances, income, and even body mass index. The documents listed below analyse the data gathered in the 1994–2015 microcensuses, focusing on children, teenagers, the older population, commuters, those with reduced mobility, and single-parent families.
Documents
Mobility of children and teenagers – Evolution between 1994 and 2015
Children and young people in Switzerland use public transport more often than they did twenty years ago. They also walk more often. On the other hand, they ride their bicycles less. Scooters, kickboards and similar devices are becoming increasingly popular, and there has also been a slight increase in parents bringing their children to school by car (“parents’ taxis”). In German
Verkehrsverhalten spezifischer Gesellschaftsgruppen: Entwicklung seit 1994 bis 2010 (PDF, 9 MB, 09.12.2013)Abschlussbericht zur Vertiefungsanalyse des Verkehrsverhaltens spezifischer Gesellschaftsgruppen
Methodological foundations
The Mobility and Transport Microcensus (MTMC) is continuously evolving to ensure that data quality remains as high as possible. Regular studies are conducted to review new questions and new forms of questionnaire.
In 1994, computer-assisted telephone interviewing (CATI) replaced the written survey which had previously been conducted. The idea of journey stages was introduced that same year. Since 2005, departure and arrival locations have been geocoded during the interview, while additional route recording began in 2010.
In 2015, the importance of means of transport, as well as reasons for travelling within the agglomerations, were analysed not just by place of residence, but also in accordance with the territoriality principle. With the place of residence principle, the distances travelled by the residents of a given agglomeration are recorded whether they were within the agglomeration’s boundaries or not. The main objective here is to analyse the effect that place of residence has on the population's mobility
behaviour. The 2015 survey used the Swiss Federal Statistical Office's sampling framework for surveys of individuals and households. Compared with the approach used for the 2010 survey, this framework automatically supplies certain socio-demographic data, which then no longer has to be requested during the telephone interview. This new sampling framework also makes it possible to include those with no known telephone number in the sample.
Each new MTMC incorporates new approaches to gain a better understanding of the mobility behaviours of the resident population. The reports on the studies conducted in this field are published on this page. More recently, there has been discussion about the use of a smartphone app, and about re-writing the questions on respondents’ views on transport policy.
Documents
Neugestaltung des Moduls zu den verkehrspolitischen Einstellungen des Mikrozensus Mobilität und Verkehr (PDF, 8 MB, 01.11.2017)Dieser Bericht schlägt vor, das Modul zu den verkehrspolitischen Einstellungen im Mikrozensus Mobilität und Verkehr durch eine Stated-Preference-Befragung zu ersetzen.
The potential of smartphone data for national travel surveys
This publication studies the advantages and disadvantages of using a smartphone app to gather information on personal mobility.
Bestimmung von Fahrleistungen nach dem Inländer- und dem Territorialprinzip (PDF, 948 kB, 09.12.2013)Artikel über das Wohnorts- und Territorialprinzip, publiziert in «Strasse und Verkehr» Nr.9, September 2013.
For researchers
The data from the Mobility and Transport Microcensus (MTMC) is available to researchers. This data can be used as a basis for countless further analyses.
The ninth survey of mobility behaviour among the Swiss population was conducted in 2015. The final 2015 MTMC report,
published in May 2017, summarises its findings. More data can be found in the collection of tables. Full 2015 MTMC data is available to order by universities, federal offices, and cantonal and regional authorities, as well as by private consultancies (cf. ‘Contact’). It provides a basis for further, more in-depth analysis. The document given below offers a detailed list of research topics. It also sets out what is new in the 2015 microcensus compared with previous years, such as the new sampling framework, new variables, analyses based on the principle of territoriality, and a collection of tables containing analyses per canton and agglomeration.
To complement the MTMC, the ARE has conducted a stated preference survey. The data collected in this survey facilitate a better understanding of choices of means of transport, and route. As is the case with the MTMC, the data from this stated preference survey is available for further analysis.
Documents
Mikrozensus Mobilität und Verkehr 2015: Mögliche Zusatzauswertungen (PDF, 121 kB, 09.03.2022)This report examines the topics that could be analysed on the basis of the data from the 2015 Mobility and Transport Microcensus (MTMC).
(In German and in French).
Contact
Federal Office for Spatial Development
3003 Berne
Swiss Federal Statistical Office
+41 58 463 64 68
verkehr@bfs.admin.ch