Influence on the choice of transportation mode of travel time variability, personal benefits, and environmental damage from cars versus public transportation

  1. Mercedes López-Sáez
  2. David Lois
  3. José Francisco Morales
Journal:
Anales de psicología

ISSN: 0212-9728,  1695-2294

Year of publication: 2016

Volume: 32

Issue: 2

Pages: 555-564

Type: Article

DOI: 10.6018/ANALESPS.32.2.208381 DIALNET GOOGLE SCHOLAR

More publications in: Anales de psicología

Abstract

The influence of information about trip time variability, personal benefits, or environmental harm from cars or public transportation on commuting mode choice (car or subway) is examined in an experimental study. In addition to these experimentally manipulated variables, the influence of prior attitudes towards the subway was verified. The sample is made up of habitual users of the car to travel to work (N = 220, age M = 37.4, SD = 8.1, 63.2% women). The results show that providing information about the advantages of public transportation, as well as prior attitudes towards the subway, decrease the preference, choice, and perceived control of car use. Of the experimentally manipulated variables, information about the variability of trip time had the greatest influence. These results highlight the importance of taking into account these variables to implement institutional campaigns to reduce car use as transportation mode

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