The public acceptability of push and pull measures as tools to promote sustainable mobility: A case-study for the 2014 FIFA World Cup

Abstract

Mega-events, such as the FIFA Football World Cup, put unparalleled strain on the transport infrastructure of host cities, especially in the developing world where the transport system still cannot satisfactorily cope with the daily mobility of citizens. Behavioural issues are being increasingly considered as an answer to meeting the massive demand for transport and mobility during such short-term events, while it may also generate the desirable long-term legacy of sustainable mobility options to the host cities. One potentially effective means to reduce private car use and to promote long-term sustainable transport usage is through influencing the public acceptability of alternative transport options. To begin to address this knowledge shortfall, a study was conducted in Manaus, Brazil, in the year 2011 (before the World Cup). The findings recommend that a change in travel behavior, particularly during a mega-event, is more effectively achieved if policy-makers give priority to the measures promoting sustainable mobility. Therefore, transport policy-makers should incentive the use of sustainable transport and/or mobility over the application of measures that would punish the private car use.