Reducing journeys taken by car

Looking at behaviours linked to reducing car journeys


  • What behaviour are you trying to change? Eg reducing car use for journeys which will take 30 minutes or less when the person walks or cycles instead

     
  • Whose behaviour are you trying to change? Eg those who own or rent a car

     
  • Where are you trying to change the behaviour? Eg at home

     
  • When are you trying to change the behaviour? Eg when the person needs to travel a shorter distance

     
  • How often are you trying to change the behaviour? E.g Around three times per week

What are the drivers/barriers to reduce the number of journeys taken by car?

Do your communities have the capability to reduce the amount of journeys taken by car? Psychological capability Does the person know what the total carbon emissions expended from driving for 30 minutes are? Do they remember to walk or cycle, instead of taking the car? Do they plan to cycle or walk for short distances? Do they need to negotiate with family or friends to cycle or walk with them, as opposed to taking the car?
Do your communities have the capability to reduce the amount of journeys taken by car? Physical capability Do they require the use of a car, due to a disability, for example? Are they able to walk or use a wheelchair?
Do your communities have the opportunity to reduce the amount of journeys taken by car? Physical opportunity Do they have the time to walk or cycle instead? Do they have a push bike which they can use? Do they have the tools to fix a push bike if it gets a puncture on the journey, for example?
Do your communities have the opportunity to reduce the amount of journeys taken by car? Social opportunity Are they supported and encouraged to not use the car by those around them? Do the people they spend time with (friends, neighbours, family) use the car for short journeys? Do people think a certain way of them for taking the car, or not, for short journeys? Is there a norm of using the car on their street or community? Do peers model the behaviour of using the car, walking or cycling? Do people observe them acting one way and if observed, are they encouraged to use the car, or not? Do local champions exist who encourage driving, or walking/cycling?
Do your communities have the motivation to reduce the amount of journeys taken by car? Automatic motivation Do they get in the car for a short journey on autopilot? Do they need to take the car for a physical opportunity (listed above) reason? Do they have a fear or anxiety of travelling in another way? Do they want to take the car because it is warmer, for example? Do they enjoy taking the car, as opposed to walking, or cycling?
Do your communities have the motivation to reduce the amount of journeys taken by car? Reflective motivation

Do they have the intention to take the car for the short journey? Do they believe that they should take the car? Do they have the attitude that the car is better to use for a short journey e.g is it quicker? Do they live in a safe enough place to walk or cycle? Is the journey safe enough?

 

What interventions could you use?

Education

  • Communicating the total carbon emissions generated from driving 30 mins compared to using public transport (psychological capability)
  • Communicate how many calories are burnt by travelling actively, alongside the total carbon emissions saved (reflective motivation)

Incentivisation

  • Workplace schemes that reward people for cycling in could be an example for incentivisation (Automatic motivation)

Restriction

  • Restrict the times when you use the car. Create a rule of when you can use the car – 80 % walk/cycle, 20% car – setting a rule for yourself (physical opportunity)

Environmental restructuring

  • Introduce a local car sharing scheme with neighbours (social opportunity)

Modelling

  • Promote how business owners and school headteachers travel actively as opposed to using the car (on social media), (social opportunity)