Reduce Private Car Use Research Articles

Influence factors on travel mode preference of working residents living far away from downtown area on workdays: A hybrid method integrating random parameter logit model and Apriori algorithm

This study presents a detailed analysis on the characteristics of travel mode preference of working residents living far away from downtown area on workdays, using GPS-based activity travel diary data from Shangdi area (Beijing). A hybrid method integrating random parameter logit model with systematic heterogeneity (RPL-SH) and Apriori algorithm is put forward to explore the influence factors and interaction effects affecting travel mode preference. First, the RPL-SH model is established to explore significant factors, and capture the unobserved random heterogeneity and systematic heterogeneity due to individual characteristics on the travel mode preference. Then, these significant factors are used to generate association rules by Apriori algorithm to investigate statistical associations between the specific travel mode preference and these significant factors. Ten significant factors are found in the RPL-SH model, in which annual household income is normally distributed. The results of the Apriori algorithm indicate that some factors combined with other factors could significantly influence working residents’ travel mode preference. For example, the combination of lower annual household income and shorter distance between workplace and the nearest bus stop is highly associated with green travel mode preference. Moreover, the results show that the proposed hybrid method not only demonstrates the consistency of the results of the two methods, but also plays a complementary role in exploring more information on travel mode preference. This research hopes to give regulators a better understanding on how working residents living far away from downtown area choose their travel mode, so as to develop more effective and targeted measures for reducing private car use and alleviating workday traffic congestion.

Determinants of spatiotemporal changes of land use carbon emissions for counties in Shaanxi Province, China.

In China, urban sprawl and developed land expansion challenge the country's "carbon peak" and "carbon neutrality" goals. Counties as the basic governance units arecrucial for effective carbon reduction policies. This study examines land use carbon emissions (LUCE) in Shaanxi Province at the county level, essential for China's low-carbon strategy. Analyzing data from 107 counties between 2000 and 2020, we found that developed land, though increasing, is the primary carbon source with a slowing growth rate. The Conversion of Cropland to Forests and Grasslands national policy mitigated the impact on carbon absorption. Carbon emissions displayed positive autocorrelation and spatial heterogeneity, varying across the region. Using the Spatial Durbin Error Model, we linked county-level emissions to GDP per capita, population, urbanization rate, and research and development expenditure for direct and indirect influence. These factors correlate with fossil fuel use and high-quality industrial development. Promoting public transits and reducing private car use are vital for achieving local and regional low-carbon goals.

Is School Travel too Complex to Handle Without a Car? Assessing “Child-Friendliness” as a Pathway to Reducing Private Car use for Children’s Transport

ABSTRACT Recognising the multifaceted challenges of addressing the dominance of cars for children’s transport, this paper introduces and tests a “child-friendliness index” (CFI) to assess the performance of neighbourhoods and school catchments to enable or constrain how children travel to school. The findings demonstrate that car trips both to and from school are negatively associated with child-friendliness. However, counter-intuitively there was no significant association between distance and car use, which remained high for shorter distances (< 4 km). These findings imply school travel decisions are susceptible to many factors. We discuss the policy pathway provided by CFI for school accessibility planning.

Shared mobility - Novel insights on mode substitution patterns, trip and user characteristics

With a growing number of shared mobility options, choosing not to own a car may become a new norm in the future. Shared mobility offers users a flexible range of low or zero-emission alternatives, potentially reducing the use of private cars, as well as noise and air pollution. However, to date, there is little evidence of shared mobility acting as an alternative to private car use. Indeed, recent research suggests that shared vehicles not only substitute trips by private car, but also trips by active travel and public transport, thus not resulting in emission savings. Therefore, as part of the eHUBS project focusing on shared electric mobility hubs, the mode substitution patterns of 602 self-reported shared mobility users across Europe were investigated. More specifically, respondents of an online survey were asked to recall their last trip using shared mobility and to report on both their chosen and substituted travel mode in addition to common trip characteristics including trip distance and frequency. Chosen shared modes considered were both conventional or electric alternatives including cars, bicycles, cargobikes, and scooters. Overall, the results suggested that shared vehicles were about as or more likely to substitute public transport, cycling and walking, as private car trips, thus providing a mixed picture with respect to their potential contribution to reducing private car use and associated carbon emissions. Local authorities and policy makers are urged to actively continue to improve active travel facilities and to be proactive in better integration of shared mobility and public transport services.

There’s no such thing as cycle traffic: A critical discourse analysis of public opposition to pro-cycle planning

Across a variety of low-cycling contexts, there are ambitious targets to reduce private car use and increase cycling to decarbonise everyday mobility practices. A component of many plans to achieve this modal shift is through active travel measures that redistribute rights to space, access or speed in a way that may prioritise cycling over driving. However, public opposition to proposals that might reduce the relative accessibility of driving can limit the possibility and scope of redistributive active travel measures, thereby preventing timely climate action and broader transport system change. In this study, we explored public opposition to a major redistributive active travel scheme proposed in the electoral county of Dún Laoghaire-Rathdown, located within the Dublin Metropolitan Area of Ireland, to examine more broadly how car-based automobility is politically sustained in this unique context. We focused our analysis on 150 public consultation submissions using Faircloughian Critical Discourse Analysis. In this paper, we present several major properties of an oppositional ‘technical discourse of transport planning’, that is normatively car-centric: ‘traffic’ as car-based (im)mobility, roads as ‘traffic’ spaces, ‘traffic’ as an immutable substance, and traffic demand-led planning. We interrogate the historical origins of this discourse in the context of Ireland and consider its effects on planning practices in relation to reproducing car-based automobility. Lastly, we conclude with recommendations that can form part of a counter-discourse that is more compatible with transport decarbonisation targets: wording cycle mobility as ‘cycle traffic’, construing redistributive cycleways as spaces of ‘traffic conversion’ rather than ‘traffic diversion’, and saliently outlining a principle of vision-led planning in redistributive active travel measures, amidst prevailing assumptions that transport planning ought to continue as a primarily ‘demand-led’ practice.

From ‘I’ to ‘we’: an exploration of how theories of cooperation might inform policymaking around sustainable travel behaviour

This article considers how theories of social cooperation might be helpful in developing policy levers for changing travel behaviours towards environmentally beneficial outcomes, especially in reducing private car use. ‘Theories of cooperation’ can be described as a shift away from a ‘traditional’ economic focus on selfish individuals to one where individuals care what those around them are doing and even sometimes identify with, and think as, groups. We use a simplified ‘game’ to show how game theory offers a very constrained backdrop to thinking about cooperation in a transport setting: it neglects important social factors, both strategic ones and the general social interactions and ease that may be required as a backdrop to cooperation in real life. We then apply this to ‘use cases’ (lift sharing, on-site travel planning, safe cycle storage and peer-to-peer information sharing) that bridge the gap between the abstractions of theories of cooperation, on the one hand, and the practicalities of policymaking and lived reality, on the other. In doing this, we show how cooperation in travel behaviour can develop in two different ways: as emergent social phenomena (for example, the informal-economy approach to car or bicycle repair) and purposeful policy initiatives (for example, rail-fare discounts for two people travelling together, such as the UK’s ‘two together’ railcard). Somewhat reductively, these could be described as ‘bottom-up’ and ‘top-down’ elements within behaviour-change processes. The article shows that: (1) cooperation exists ‘naturally’ in the ‘travel-behaviour policy space’; (2) there is a wealth of opportunities for policy to help make cooperation happen more and/or work better; and (3) this includes opportunities to create the conditions required for cooperation to exist and flourish.

A Study on the Viability of Adopting Battery Electric Vehicles in Bus Rapid Transit in Brazil Using the AHP Method

Public transport is essential to provide urban mobility, and cities need to offer a fast, comfortable, secure, and low-pollutant public transport mode to attract passengers and reduce private car use. Despite metros, trains, and light rail systems being desirable, the cost of implementation and low flexibility make bus services the best option for many cities. One solution for improving bus service systems is the implementation of bus rapid transit systems that are composed of buses running in segregated lines with pre-payment fares and level boarding platforms in stations. However, the main challenge of bus systems is the use of engines fueled by diesel, which is extremely polluted. One possible solution is the use of battery buses; but are they really feasible regarding daily operation cost? In this paper, we investigate the adoption of battery buses in comparison to diesel engines in a BRT system using municipal data from São Paulo, Brazil, as a reference. We collected operational data from the Sao Paulo city government transport agency and data from the literature to produce an analytic hierarchy process (AHP) model, which allowed us to compare both systems. The AHP model considered a triple-bottom-line perspective using social, economic, and environmental impact criteria. The result showed that the initial costs of acquisition can be a barrier, but in the long run, cities adopting battery buses in their BRT system can benefit from the effects of reduction in gas emissions and longer lifetimes of electric bus components. Moreover, the results showed that the adoption of battery buses in BRT systems depends on local government subsidies being implemented.

Investigating the Role of Urban Vehicle Access Regulations as a Policy Tool for Promoting Electric Mobility in Budapest

To promote sustainable urban mobility and reduce environmental pollution, transportation policies worldwide aim to decrease reliance on fossil fuels. This requires reducing private car use through policy instruments such as urban vehicle access regulations (UVARs) and promoting alternative sustainable transport technologies such as electromobility. Considering that the deployment of such regulations and the market penetration of battery electric vehicles (BEVs) is still low in Hungary, this study aimed to examine the willingness of urban dwellers in Budapest, Hungary, to adopt battery electric vehicles (BEVs) upon implementation of an UVAR measure. The study analysed the BEV adoption intention of 409 urban residents who participated in an UVAR study in 2022. The results show that age is a significant factor, with individuals aged 35–44 most likely to adopt BEVs. However, other socio-demographic characteristics did not significantly affect willingness to adopt BEVs. Additionally, pro-environmental behaviour or attitude did not significantly predict BEV adoption. Based on these findings, this study highlights the importance of considering multiple interrelated factors and provides policy insights for promoting sustainable transportation technology adoption.

Perceptions of E-Micromobility Vehicles Amongst Staff and Students at Universities in the North of England

Background: Currently, many journeys are under three miles, with most of these journeys completed using private cars. This leads to congestion, pollution and reduced opportunity for physical activity. Swapping private car journeys for walking, cycling or using electric micromobility (e-micromobility) vehicles, such as electric scooters and electric bicycles, could create healthier environments and populations. Whist e-micromobility vehicles are increasing in popularity, questions remain about how they might fit into current transport networks and how they are perceived by communities. Leeds is striving to become a zero emission city by 2030 and the student and staff population in Leeds is diverse and provides a good opportunity to explore perceptions relating to e-micromobility in the region.&amp;nbsp;Objective and methods: This study aimed to explore perceptions of e-scooters and e-bikes as key groups of e-micromobility vehicles amongst university staff and students working or studying at universities in Leeds. An online survey was disseminated online via social media, email networks and via Prolific in November 2021.Findings and implications: Few respondents currently use e-micromobility vehicles. Advantages of e-micromobility vehicles were mentioned and included reduced pollution and convenience for short journeys. Many respondents stated that they would be unlikely to purchase or hire an e-micromobility vehicle soon. Deterrents included cost, concerns about safety and uncertainties about where they can be ridden. Required regulations that respondents mentioned included compulsory training and maximum speed restrictions. These findings could inform future policy relating to e-micromobilities and support transport changes to support ambitions to achieve net zero emissions by 2030 in the region and beyond.

Equity issues and road pricing tools: empirical evidence

The consideration of equity issues in the transport sector is a key element for planning and providing mobility services. Scientific literature on this topic concerns different aspects and the Author provides a reading lens which focuses on economic tools to consider social acceptance in terms of equity issues in the transport field. For this purpose the paper presents some recent scientific contributions on road pricing used around the world, with a particular attention on how it influences transportation policy and planning decisions. Further, the paper illustrates the empirical results of transport users’ attitudes and the measure of the probability of accepting a road pricing scheme. The Random Utility Model (R.U.M.) is used for estimation purposes with attitudinal data obtained with a survey. The underlying idea is to capture useful and significant determinants of those potential road pricing payers who would accept a wider and more integrated transport system, one that encourages the use of public transport, thus reducing private car use through the consideration of equity issues. Therefore, this research paper contributes to individuating the key variables that affect transportation equity analysis by assessing the validity of transport economic tools. The paper shows how equity in the transport field can be reached, how impacts of road pricing schemes are considered and measured, and how the people categorized can significantly affect economic and social results. The results indicates that there is a willingness to pay for road use if it is part of an integrated fiscal system which supports compensation for collective modes. Further research can identify the exact policy mix of different tools.

Sharing vehicles or sharing rides - Psychological factors influencing the acceptance of carsharing and ridepooling in Germany

Shared mobility has the potential to reduce private car use and can thereby contribute to a mobility transition which reduces energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions. At the same time, shared mobility services still have a niche existence - even in major cities. If the goal is to establish shared mobility as a significant part of the mobility system, a key question is which factors determine the acceptance of individual services. Can perceived innovation-specific factors that can be more directly influenced by policies explain differences in attitudes and acceptance or does the explanatory power lie with psychological dispositions that are more difficult to change by policies? Do these factors apply in general or differ between different sharing services? We investigate these questions based on a survey study in major German cities to analyse the acceptance of two car-based shared mobility services, carsharing and ridepooling, in society (N = 1,531). The data analysis based on two path models shows that perceived compatibility with daily life is the most important factor related to the acceptance of carsharing and ridepooling. Perceived ease of use positively affects the general attitude towards both services. We conclude that our findings offer potential intervention routes for policies that increase the acceptance of shared mobility. The prerequisites for the services to contribute to a reduction in energy consumption in the transport sector are also discussed.

The impact of traffic demand management policy mix on commuter travel choices

The experience of traffic demand management policy in many cities shows that a single policy instrument has limited effect and may have side effects on other contemporaneous policies; therefore, formulating a policy mix is a more effective way to solve urban traffic problems. However, the bulk of previous literature has focused on the impact of single policy instruments, neglecting the growing interest in understanding the role played by the different combinations of policy instruments. Therefore, using a 6*3 matrix typology, this paper provides an empirical impact analysis of selected policy mixes in inducing sustainable travel behavior and reducing private car use. This study also designs orthogonal experiments and adopts stated preference questionnaires to analyze the main effects and full combined effects of packages of policy instruments through multinomial logit models. The results show that the effect of a policy mix is often not better than that of a single policy and demonstrate the need for careful systemic design. A balanced-designed policy mix can facilitate public transportation and help reduce traffic gridlock using a balanced combination of push, pull and systemic TDM policy instruments.

Key Elements of Mobility Apps for Improving Urban Travel Patterns: A Literature Review

In recent decades cities have applied a number of policy measures aimed at reducing car use and increasing public transportation (PT) patronage. Persuasive strategies to change mobility behavior present notable limitations in economic and logistical terms and have only minor impacts. The smartphone has emerged as a promising tool to overcome these challenges, as it can host persuasion strategies through mobility apps. Simultaneously, Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) schemes could open up new possibilities for addressing both sustainability goals and the needs of urban travelers. This paper carries out a literature review to identify the key elements of mobility apps that foster more sustainable travelers’ choices. The findings show that some persuasive strategies such as eco-feedback, rewards or social challenges are effective because they are well received by users. From the users’ point of view, the perceived barriers (e.g., usability, privacy) relate negatively to app adoption, and it is considered useful to include functional needs such as real-time information (e.g., to avoid congestion), cost savings (e.g., customized multimodal packages), comfort (e.g., crowding on public transport) or health (e.g., calories burned). We have found that a proper design of multimodal travel packages based on (i) financial incentives and (ii) environmental awareness, could help increase public transport patronage and reduce private car use.

Structural, Psychological and Contextual Predictors of Car Use.

Besides its undeniable advantages, personal car use generates a wide array of problems, among which its contribution to global warming is probably the most severe. To implement sound policies that are effective in reducing private car use, it is essential to first understand its important antecedents. Structural, psychological and contextual predictors were extensively studied independently, yet integrative approaches that investigate all these factors in a single theoretical model are lacking. The present study contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of car use behavior by proposing a model that includes structural, psychological and contextual determinants and tests this model on an international sample of drivers (N = 414). Responses were analyzed using a structural equation modeling approach. Results show that car use habits, perceived behavioral control, policy measures, fuel cost, infrastructure, temperature and level of precipitations significantly influence car use behavior. Such results support the inclusion of both structural (i.e., hard) and psychological (i.e., soft) factors in the design of policy interventions, while also considering contextual situations. Implications for policy and practice are discussed.

Promoting and preserving safe and active mobility in Istanbul during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted all facets of daily life, including and especially mobility within urban centres. As part of efforts to control the virus by encouraging citizens to stay at home, local governments imposed public health and social measures (PHSMs) restricting the availability and use of public transit. The result was an immediate, sharp decline in the use of public transit, and later as the pandemic was brought under control in certain geographies, a reluctance to return to using public transportation due to sustained fears of virus transmission. In Istanbul, Turkey, the use of public transportation decreased by over 90%, coupled with a significant rise in the use of private motorised transportation. To counter this trend, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality (IMM) joined cities around the world in implementing a two-pronged strategy to support safe and active mobility during the pandemic. IMM first launched a communication campaign to promote adherence to PHSMs, to rebuild trust in the safety of public transportation as restrictions eased, and to educate citizens on transportation alternatives. Billboards, social media and digital screens on public transportation promoted continued mask use, hand-washing and physical distancing and encouraged citizens wary of returning to public transit to consider walking or cycling as a safe and healthy alternative to private car use. IMM simultaneously enhanced their cycling infrastructure, creating new temporary and permanent bike lanes that closed connectivity gaps within the city. This talk will further elaborate on IMM's actions and the results and explore how they and other cities can sustain the focus on safe and active mobility as a longer-term strategy to reduce private car use and improve health outcomes.

Car Use of the Carless in Sweden: Everyday Life Conditions for Reducing Car Dependence

For the sake of reducing car dependence, much can be learned from non-car owners about how everyday life can, and cannot, be organized without private car ownership. This study aims to explore carless mobility, including the role of the car, in relation to specific everyday projects and life situations. We do so through a descriptive analysis of data from the Swedish National Travel Survey 2011–2016, comparing carless mobility with that of car owners. Theoretically, our analysis builds on a constraints perspective with respect to mobility, which is rooted in time geography. We find that the constraints associated with activities and life situations seem to matter for how mobility is performed and for the feasibility of living a carless life. Managing the material flows of the household (for example, buying food and disposing of waste) is a project handled differently by non-car owners, through using nearby services and with a low degree of car use. On the other hand, our data suggest that maintaining social relations is car dependent and can potentially be more problematic for the carless. Moreover, an individual’s social network itself seems to be an important source of occasional car access. Results also indicate that the life situations of individuals may affect the mobility implications of carlessness, and the largest effect on trip frequency is found among carless retirees. From a planning perspective, and with the ambition to reduce private car use, this study identifies significant value in considering the different contexts of everyday life in which car use may or may not occur.

Transportation technologies, sharing economy, and teleactivities: Implications for built environment and travel

This paper reviews how teleactivities, the sharing economy, and emerging transportation technologies – components of what we could call the “App City” – may influence travel behavior and the built environment. Findings suggest that teleactivities may substitute some trips but generate others. Telework and teleconferencing may reduce total travel. Findings on the sharing economy suggest that accommodation sharing increases long-distance travel; bikesharing is conducive to more active travel and lower car use; carsharing may reduce private car use and ownership; ridesourcing (ridehailing) may increase vehicle miles traveled; while the implications of e-scooter sharing, ridesharing, and Mobility as a Service are context-dependent. Findings on emerging transportation technologies suggest that private autonomous vehicles and urban air mobility may increase total travel, whereas autonomous buses may lead to reduced car use. Implications of App Cities for the built environment include new transport systems and land use changes due to behavioral changes.

Can Bike-Sharing Systems Reduce Private Car Use? - An Exploration Through The Comparison of Discrete Choice and Machine Learning Models

Can Bike-Sharing Systems Reduce Private Car Use? - An Exploration Through The Comparison of Discrete Choice and Machine Learning Models

Carsharing-facilitating neighbourhood choice: a mixed logit model

Carsharing-facilitating neighbourhood is an emerging concept in urban development that combines carsharing, sustainable transportation-residential planning, and attractive housing to reduce private car use and improve neighbourhood quality. To investigate residents’ preferences for such neighbourhoods, a stated choice experiment was designed that systematically varied attributes of carsharing-facilitating neighbourhoods to elicit their utility for people with a particular socio-demographic profile. The survey was conducted among residents who currently live in densely populated urban areas in The Netherlands. In total, 610 valid responses were obtained for analysis. To derive the utility of carsharing-facilitating neighbourhoods of a particular profile, a mixed logit model was estimated. Results indicate that the utility of a carsharing-facilitating neighbourhood primarily depends on carsharing cost, required carsharing booking time, green space density, housing costs, housing type, housing size and housing building year. Besides, the utility varies with socio-demographic characteristics, such as age, household composition, net monthly income, work status and education level. The estimated results can help policymakers and real estate developers understand the contribution of particular factors to the utility of carsharing-facilitating neighbourhoods, and determine target groups to develop implementation strategies.

Shared mobility services versus private car: Implications of changes in everyday life

Reducing private car commuting is necessary for decarbonisation of cities; meanwhile, new shared mobility services provide an alternative to cars for daily commuting proposing a transition of user behaviour towards more sustainable mobility practices. In this paper, we investigate changes in everyday life practices when private car commuting is replaced with a shared mobility alternative, integrating lightweight small size electric vehicles (LEVs) in a peer-to-peer shared mobility service. Through a living lab experiment, a long-term empirical study with 16 individual households in Sweden was conducted employing a mixed methods approach. Using social practice theory as an analytical lens, we interrogate in depth the process of change in users’ everyday lives to understand challenges in integrating shared mobility services into everyday practice, and the implications for transition towards sustainable mobility practices from a user’s everyday life point of view. The results show that a new mobility service can play a role in reconfiguring the meaning of private car commuting in terms of its related impacts, as well as increase knowledge and trust in sustainable alternatives. However, integrating shared mobility services in everyday practices showed that it became difficult to manage after six months, particularly for users with children. Our study demonstrates that current everyday life logistics, time affluence, and effort requirements are critical variables for enabling practice changes towards more sustainable mobility alternatives, such as a light electric vehicle sharing service. To enable people to reduce private car use, a more integrated and systemic design approach is needed for alternatives to become competitive with the notion of cars in everyday mobility.