Albanians primarily rely on cars for daily transportation, with minimal preference for walking or cycling. A European Commission report conducted across several European cities reveals that Tirana ranks among the bottom 10 cities for public transport usage.

According to the report, only 22% of Tirana residents use public buses for transportation. In contrast, 55% rely on private cars, and 25% travel on foot.

Why Are Albanians So Reliant on Cars?

Sociologist Entela Binjaku suggests this dependency stems from the socioeconomic history of the country.
“I believe it relates to the numerous shortages we’ve faced as a society for decades, where comfort was a luxury. For many of us, owning a car was once an unattainable goal. Now that it’s achievable, a car has become a significant part of our identity, representing our economic status and social standing,” Binjaku explained.

Although slightly outperforming cities like Rome, Belgrade, and Madrid, bicycle usage in Tirana remains low, with only 17% of residents choosing bikes for transportation.

“In places like Shkodra, where cycling has been a tradition since childhood, it’s still preserved today. However, in other cities where no efforts were made to establish such a tradition, cycling has lagged behind,” Binjaku added.

Across all transportation modes, Tirana falls below the European average, making it a city heavily dominated by cars.