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Environmental and Behavioral Consequences of Interventions for Sustainable Travel

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A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Transportation".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2020) | Viewed by 42825

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Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Lars Olsson

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Department of Social and Psychological Studies, and Service Research Center, Karlstad University, 651 88 Karlstad, Sweden
Interests: wellbeing; happiness; travel; behavioral change; life-course; sustainability
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Dr. Margareta Friman

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Department of Social and Psychological Studies, and Service Research Center, Karlstad University, 651 88 Karlstad, Sweden
Interests: wellbeing; travel behavior; sustainability; service quality; satisfaction
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Prof. Björn Frostell

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Ecoloop AB, Stockholm, Sweden
Interests: systems thinking, systems analysis, physical resource flows and stocks, physical resource accounting, circular economy

Dr. Rajib Sinha

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Guest Editor

Department of Sustainable Development, Environmental Science and Engineering (SEED), KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden
Interests: systems modelling around industrial ecology, e.g., MFA/SFA, LCA, input–output analysis, system dynamics, agent-based modeling

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are organizing a Special Issue on “Environmental and Behavioral Consequences of Interventions for Sustainable Travel” in the Sustainable Transportation section of the journal Sustainability. The venue is a peer-reviewed, open-access scientific journal that publishes articles and communications in the interdisciplinary area of environmental, cultural, economic, and social sustainability of human beings. For detailed information on the journal, we refer you to https://www.mdpi.com/journal/sustainability.

The purpose of this Special Issue is to introduce and demonstrate the environmental and behavioral consequences of different interventions for sustainable travel. In doing so, we wish to bring together distinguished researchers from a variety of academic backgrounds to provide reviews, meta-analyses, conceptual models, and empirical studies with the aim to present recent advances in this emerging field. The overall goal is to provide a broad understanding of the links between travel behavior and sustainability, and different evaluations and measures to assess the impact and consequrnces of travel behavior interventions. Behavioral and life cycle assessment perspectives are welcome. The listed keywords suggest a few of the many possibilities.

Assoc. Prof. Lars E. Olsson
Prof. Margareta Friman
Prof. Björn Frostell
Dr. Rajib Sinha
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

Daily travel
Intervention
Travel behavior
Travel experience
Sustainable travel
Sustainable change
Life cycle assessment
Material/substance flow analysis
Environmental sustainability
Agent-based modelling
System dynamics
Systems modelling

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Editorial

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9 pages, 375 KiB

Open AccessEditorial

What Can Be Done to Change?—The Environmental and Behavioral Consequences of Interventions for Sustainable Travel

by Lars E. Olsson, Rajib Sinha, Björn Frostell and Margareta Friman

Sustainability 2022, 14(3), 1345; https://doi.org/10.3390/su14031345 - 25 Jan 2022

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1731

Abstract

We organized this Special Issue on “The Environmental and Behavioral Consequences of Interventions for Sustainable Travel” with the aim of attracting interdisciplinary perspectives on the environmental and behavioral consequences of different interventions for sustainable travel [...] Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Behavioral Consequences of Interventions for Sustainable Travel)

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Research

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19 pages, 918 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Changing Suburban Daily Mobilities in Response to a Mobility Intervention: A Qualitative Investigation of an E-bike Trial

by Ragnhild Dahl Wikstrøm and Lars Böcker

Sustainability 2020, 12(6), 2413; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12062413 - 19 Mar 2020

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 4157

Abstract

This paper explores how local mobility interventions can bring about changes in daily mobilities and presents a qualitative study of an intervention introducing electric bikes (e-bikes) to suburban commuters in Norway. Our research shows promising evidence that e-bikes could play a crucial role in achieving a sustainable transport transition and that interventions are essential to stimulate the upscaling and mainstreaming of this emerging low-energy transport mode. In order to understand the scheme’s capacity to change mobility outcomes, this paper considers (i) how this low-energy mobility intervention was conceived and undertaken by its initiators, as well as how it was experienced by its participants; and (ii) how new e-bike practices are intertwined with existing daily activities and mobility systems. Theoretically, this paper draws on the staging mobilities framework and conceptualizes situational mobilities as involving the dimensions of embodiment, social interaction, and materiality. With this twofold objective, this paper generates crucial knowledge that is required to understand the capacity of mobility interventions to trigger a sustainable transport transition. This study explores the potential of combining mobile methods (GPS-tracking), qualitative GIS, and visual methods (photo- and map-elicitation) in interviews, and participant observations. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Behavioral Consequences of Interventions for Sustainable Travel)

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18 pages, 292 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Exploring Dockless Bikeshare Usage: A Case Study of Beijing, China

by Zheyan Chen, Dea van Lierop and Dick Ettema

Sustainability 2020, 12(3), 1238; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12031238 - 8 Feb 2020

Cited by 34 | Viewed by 3384

Abstract

The rapid emergence of dockless bikeshare systems has had a considerable influence on individuals’ daily mobility patterns. However, information is still limited regarding the role that sociodemographics, social environments, travel attitudes and the built environment play on the adoption and usage of dockless bikeshare systems. To gain insight into what influences individuals to start and continue to use dockless bikeshare systems, this study sets out to assess the influential factors that are related to individuals’ initial adoption and frequency of usage of this transportation mode. A survey was conducted among the residents of Beijing to assess their usage of dockless bikeshare systems. A binary logistic regression is employed to assess travel mode adoption, and a set of hurdle negative binominal regressions is used to assess the travel frequency for four trip purposes. The results reveal that dockless bikeshare systems are more popular among younger, higher educated, or median-income groups and appear to be gender-independent. The total number of kilometers of roads within an individual’s neighborhood was reported to be positively associated with having higher odds of dockless bikeshare adoption, while the total length of bicycle paths does not show a significant relationship. Having a pro-bicycle attitude was found to play a strong positive role in deciding whether to use the dockless bikeshare system initially, but it became less important in determining bikeshare users’ frequency of usage. Finally, this study confirms that it is relevant to consider various trip purposes when exploring individuals’ travel behavior and dockless bikeshare usage. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Behavioral Consequences of Interventions for Sustainable Travel)

21 pages, 1004 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Improved Usability of Pedestrian Environments After Dark for People with Vision Impairment: an Intervention Study

by Pimkamol Mattsson, Maria Johansson, Mai Almén, Thorbjörn Laike, Elizabeth Marcheschi and Agneta Ståhl

Sustainability 2020, 12(3), 1096; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12031096 - 4 Feb 2020

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 2590

Abstract

Walking is an important transport mode for sustainable cities, but the usability of pedestrian environments for people with impaired vision is very limited after dark. This study compares the usability of a walkway, operationalized in terms of (i) the pedestrian’s ability to orient themselves and detect infrastructure elements, and (ii) the perceived quality of lighting in the environment (evaluated in terms of the perceived strength quality and perceived comfort quality). The study was performed in a city in southern Sweden, along a pedestrian route where observations and structured interviews had previously been conducted and after an intervention involving installing new lighting systems with LED lights. A mixed method analysis involving participants with impaired vision (N=14) showed that the intervention generally improved the walkway’s usability: observations indicated that the participants’ ability to orientate themselves and detect infrastructure elements increased, and the interviews showed that the intervention increased the perceived strength quality of the lighting along the walkway. However, the effects on the perceived comfort quality were unclear. It is therefore important to carefully evaluate new lighting systems to reduce the risk of creating an inappropriate lighting design that will limit walking after dark by people with impaired vision. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Behavioral Consequences of Interventions for Sustainable Travel)

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25 pages, 2307 KiB

Open AccessArticle

More Cycling, Less Driving? Findings of a Cycle Street Intervention Study in the Rhine-Main Metropolitan Region, Germany

by Andreas Blitz, Annika Busch-Geertsema and Martin Lanzendorf

Sustainability 2020, 12(3), 805; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12030805 - 22 Jan 2020

Cited by 16 | Viewed by 4939

Abstract

In order to encourage a shift from the car to the more sustainable transport mode of cycling, cycle streets have been implemented in cities all over the world in the last few years. In these shared streets, the entire carriageway is designated for cyclists, while motorized traffic is subordinated. However, evidence on the impact of cycle street interventions related to travel behavior change has been limited until now. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate whether cycle streets are an effective measure to facilitate bicycle use and discourage car use, thus contributing to the aim of promoting sustainable travel. For this purpose, we conducted a written household survey in the German city of Offenbach am Main involving participants affected by a cycle street intervention (n = 701). Based on two stage models of self-regulated behavioral change (SSBC), we identified the participants’ level of willingness to use a bicycle frequently and to reduce car use. By means of bivariate and multivariate statistical methods, we analyzed the influence of awareness, use, and perceptions of the cycle street on the willingness to change behavior towards more sustainable travel. The results show that the intervention has a positive impact on frequent bicycle use, while we observed only a limited effect on car use reduction. Traffic conflicts and car speeding within the cycle street adversely affect the acceptance of the intervention. The study’s findings provide new insights into the actual effects of a cycle street and its potential to encourage sustainable travel behavior. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Behavioral Consequences of Interventions for Sustainable Travel)

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18 pages, 420 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Evaluating a Mobility Service Application for Business Travel: Lessons Learnt from a Demonstration Project

by Alfred Andersson, Lena Winslott Hiselius, Jessica Berg, Sonja Forward and Peter Arnfalk

Sustainability 2020, 12(3), 783; https://doi.org/10.3390/su12030783 - 21 Jan 2020

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3110

Abstract

Business travel contributes to significant greenhouse gas emissions, and there is a need for measures that reduce the demand for trips made with energy-intensive means of transport. In this study, a mobility service application (MSA) introduced in 13 Swedish organisations was tested and evaluated to facilitate booking and handling of business trips, in particular public transport. A before and after study consisting of surveys and interviews with employees at the organisations were conducted. The results show that the MSA was mostly used for regional and local public transport trips, and the users stated that the MSA made it easier to travel by public transport, although this particular result should be seen as tentative due to the small sample size. Three factors that influence the success of a new MSA as a means to increase sustainable business trips were identified: management control and proactiveness; perceived improvement of intervention; functions and technical sufficiency. The results also highlight the need to establish organisational conditions that facilitate sustainable business travel, such as coherent travel policy, accessibility to sustainable modes of transport, and a culture that encourages environmentally friendly behaviour. The study suggests improvements that can be made to similar interventions and strategies that can be introduced to promote sustainable business travel. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Behavioral Consequences of Interventions for Sustainable Travel)

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13 pages, 1952 KiB

Open AccessFeature PaperArticle

Sustainable Personal Transport Modes in a Life Cycle Perspective—Public or Private?

by Rajib Sinha, Lars E. Olsson and Björn Frostell

Sustainability 2019, 11(24), 7092; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11247092 - 11 Dec 2019

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 4789

Abstract

Life cycle-based studies endorse public transport to cause lower environmental pressures compared to a private car. However, a private car can cause lower environmental pressure when a public vehicle (bus or train) runs on a lower occupancy during an off-peak hour. This fact should be the basis for a more profound debate regarding public versus private transport. Many transport interventions are striving to reduce the number of car transports. To reach this goal, passengers need attractive alternatives to their reduced number of car travels (i.e., attractive public transport). This study aimed to develop a model allowing us to estimate potential environmental gains by changing travel behavior. A passenger travel model was developed based on life cycle inventories (LCI) of different travel modes to calculate environmental footprints. The model was applied in an intervention of public transport through temporary free public transport. The intervention was successful in significantly reducing the number of car transports (12%). However, total passenger kilometer travelled (PKT) increased substantially more, mainly by bus, but also train, bicycle and walking. The total energy, carbon and nitrogen oxide footprints were slightly increased after the intervention. If the commuters were assumed to travel during peak hours or the number of public transports were not affected by the increased number of commuters, the overall environmental footprints decreased. Our conclusions are that transport interventions are very complex. They may result in desired changes, but also in altered travel behavior, increasing overall impact. Thus, a very broad evaluation of all transport modes as well as potential positive social influences of the transport intervention will be necessary. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Behavioral Consequences of Interventions for Sustainable Travel)

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12 pages, 549 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Trains in the Land of the Car: A Case Study of Mobility as Agency in the United States

by Zinette Bergman

Sustainability 2019, 11(23), 6710; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11236710 - 27 Nov 2019

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2548

Abstract

Recent studies have shown that self-efficacy—the belief that individuals are able to execute behaviors that lead to desired outcomes—is a key factor for adopting more sustainable travel modes and practices. Also crucial are societal values and policies associated with sustainability, which guide individual mobility behaviors. Thus, sustainable travel research and policies are divided into hard and soft approaches. This study applies Albert Bandura’s concept of personal agency and his model of triadic reciprocal causation (TRC) to explore mobility as agency from the perspective of 32 car users from regions, which no longer have an adequate passenger rail infrastructure. The aim is to investigate the applicability of TRC theory in a US context, as well as a substantive study of how car users make sense of their mobility practices in relation to trains. Based on hermeneutic content analysis, a mixed-method analytic framework, findings reveal that Bandura’s agentive pathways associated with individual and proxy agency define the mobility practices of interviewees. By exploring the underlying structures of salient agentive pathways, this study traces the links between agency and (un)sustainable travel within a US American mobility culture. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Behavioral Consequences of Interventions for Sustainable Travel)

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23 pages, 3895 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Large Scale, App-Based Behaviour Change Experiment Persuading Sustainable Mobility Patterns: Methods, Results and Lessons Learnt

by Francesca Cellina, Dominik Bucher, Francesca Mangili, José Veiga Simão, Roman Rudel and Martin Raubal

Sustainability 2019, 11(9), 2674; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11092674 - 10 May 2019

Cited by 41 | Viewed by 6871

Abstract

The present urban transportation system, mostly tailored for cars, has long shown its limitations. In many urban areas, public transportation and soft mobility would be able to effectively satisfy many travel needs. However, they tend to be neglected, due to a deep-rooted car [...] Read more.

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emissions and energy consumption? Taking advantage of the wide availability of smartphone devices, we designed GoEco!, a smartphone application exploiting automatic mobility tracking, eco-feedback, social comparison and gamification elements to persuade individual modal change. We tested the effectiveness of GoEco! in two regions of Switzerland (Cantons Ticino and Zurich), in a large-scale, one year long randomized controlled trial. Notwithstanding a large drop-out rate experienced throughout the experiment, GoEco! was observed to produce a statistically significant impact (a decrease in CO

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emissions and energy consumption per kilometer) for systematic routes in highly car-dependent urban areas, such as the Canton Ticino. In Zurich, instead, where high quality public transport is already available, no statistically significant effects were found. In this paper we present the GoEco! experiment and discuss its results and the lessons learnt, highlighting practical difficulties in performing randomized controlled trials in the field of mobility and providing recommendations for future research. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Behavioral Consequences of Interventions for Sustainable Travel)

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Review

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16 pages, 409 KiB

Open AccessReview

Why Do They Ride with Others? Meta-Analysis of Factors Influencing Travelers to Carpool

by Lars E. Olsson, Raphaela Maier and Margareta Friman

Sustainability 2019, 11(8), 2414; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11082414 - 24 Apr 2019

Cited by 52 | Viewed by 7849

Abstract

Carpooling can be viewed as a simple intervention to reduce congestion, environmental problems, and land use for parking spaces. The present study assembled 18 studies on carpooling from all over the world that were published during the last five years (2014–2018) for a meta-analysis. By calculating effect sizes of 20 different factors, the study aimed to understand user characteristics, motives, and barriers to carpooling, and to gain insights about carpool interventions. Our results indicate that carpooling is very weakly related to socio-demographic variables, and that psychological factors are becoming more important, including monetary and time benefits, reducing congestion, and environmental concerns. Policy-makers can increase carpooling by offering cheaper parking or special parking spaces for carpoolers and introducing high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes. Not surprisingly, fuel prices influence mode choice. The overall findings support previous results, but we found judgmental factors becoming more important for the choice to carpool. We conclude that carpooling services still fail to include many potential users and to serve users adequately. The challenge of meeting the needs of all users requires new approaches to designing carpool concepts, systems, and encounters. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Environmental and Behavioral Consequences of Interventions for Sustainable Travel)

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