Mobility in Luxembourg: what does the 33% figure mean?

In Luxembourg, 33% of respondents to the EIB’s 2026 survey say they have replaced some individual car journeys with car-sharing, public transport or cycling. The result measures reported journeys, not a lasting abandonment of the car.

In Luxembourg, 33% of those surveyed say they have replaced some car journeys with car-sharing, public transport or cycling. This figure, the highest in the European Union in the European Investment Bank (EIB)’s 2026 survey, describes journeys changed in response to rising energy prices. It does not mean that a third of residents have given up owning a car or stopped using one.

A journey replaced, not a car abandoned

The distinction lies in the question asked: the EIB says respondents had replaced individual car journeys with one of these three options during the twelve months before the survey, conducted in August 2026. The result therefore concerns reported journeys, not a permanent change to all the journeys made by a household. One person may leave the car at home for some trips while continuing to depend on it for others.

This distinction matters for understanding what adaptation entails. Public transport, cycling and car-sharing are grouped together in a single indicator; the survey does not specify, in the results presented, what share is accounted for by each option. Nor does it say whether the journeys concerned were replaced every week or only on certain occasions. The 33% figure therefore cannot, on its own, measure an overall reduction in car use.

The European comparison nevertheless offers a point of reference: 22% of respondents across the EU say they have replaced individual car journeys with these modes, compared with 33% in Luxembourg. The Grand Duchy thus ranks first among the Member States for this reported response. This sheds light on a reported reaction to higher energy costs, not on the actual frequency of journeys or changes measured through traffic counts.

Savings also affect outings and everyday essentials

The results published by the EIB show several different ways of reducing spending on travel. In Luxembourg, 23% of respondents say they have cut back on journeys for essential needs, such as shopping, medical appointments or administrative errands. Others are forgoing outings and trips: 29% say they have given up a weekend away, a holiday or a visit to relatives. Finally, 28% say they drive more slowly to save fuel.

These responses do not all describe the same constraint. Limiting essential journeys directly affects access to services and shops; postponing a visit or a trip concerns other forms of mobility. The survey distinguishes between them, but does not detail the individual circumstances behind these categories. For example, it cannot establish who can easily take a bus or cycle, depending on where they live, their working hours, health or family responsibilities.

The figures support a more limited conclusion: those surveyed report several adjustments, sometimes going beyond the choice of transport mode. More than six in ten (62%) say rising prices have changed the way they use their car. The detailed responses show that this change may mean fewer journeys, different routes or slower driving, without establishing that these practices are lasting.

The energy budget is not limited to the pump

Reported pressure also extends to heating and everyday spending. According to the EIB, 52% of residents surveyed believe that rising energy prices have significantly reduced their purchasing power over the twelve months before the survey, including 13% who report a very significant impact. A third say they have turned down the heating (33%), and nearly a third have cut their spending on food or healthcare (32%).

The most concerning finding relates to difficulties paying bills: 23% say they have gone into debt, asked for financial assistance or delayed paying an energy bill. This is a category that groups together several situations. The figure does not mean that 23% have experienced all these difficulties, nor does it in itself measure the number of households in fuel poverty. It does, however, indicate that for some respondents, adjustments go beyond choosing a cheaper journey.

The comparison with the European Union is notable: 16% of European respondents report one of these difficulties, compared with 23% in Luxembourg. Here too, the survey measures responses to a poll, not assistance cases or payment delays verified by a public body.

Today’s price does not tell the story of the past twelve months

Timing also matters. RTL Infos reports that the maximum price of SP95 in Luxembourg will fall by 5.1 cents to 1.627 euro per litre from 7 November 2026. This price, announced for a specific day, does not describe the level paid throughout the period covered by the August survey. A drop in pump prices in November and the budgetary constraints reported during the survey can therefore coexist; the former cannot be used to invalidate the latter.

What the survey cannot establish

The 2026 edition of the EIB’s climate survey was conducted by Ipsos bva from 3 to 25 August among 23,000 people aged 16 and over in the 27 Member States. In Luxembourg, 500 people were surveyed. The results are weighted to be representative of each country’s population, according to the methodology provided by the EIB.

A sample of this size makes it possible to compare reported trends, but does not tell the story of every area or every mobility situation. The publication does not provide, in its summary results, a breakdown of responses by municipality, income, residency status or access to a car. Nor does it measure the share of journeys respondents actually transferred to each mode.

To understand what is changing in practice, it would also be necessary to know which journeys are affected, how often, and what options are available. The survey highlights reported adaptation; it is not enough to describe the conditions that make it possible, or difficult, for each resident.