Experimental Evaluation of Information Interventions to Encourage Non-Motorized Travel: A Case Study in Hefei, China

Jichao Geng, Ruyin Long, Li Yang, Junqi Zhu and Getnet Engeda Birhane
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Jichao Geng: School of Economics and Management, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan 232001, China
Ruyin Long: School of Management, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
Li Yang: School of Economics and Management, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan 232001, China
Junqi Zhu: School of Economics and Management, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan 232001, China
Getnet Engeda Birhane: School of Economics and Management, Anhui University of Science and Technology, Huainan 232001, China

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 15, 1-19

Abstract: This study aims at presenting an experimental evaluation of the different effects of environmental and health information on encouraging car owners to travel on foot and by bicycle. Health information consists of a high and a low target setting. One hundred and forty-six participants in Hefei city reported their travel behaviors in terms of mode, time, and trip before and after the experiment. Their cognitive and emotional processes with regard to the protection motivation theory (PMT) that determine their potential travel behavior changes in response to information intervention are also identified. Three experimental groups and one control group based on a between-group design are adopted and the methodology of paired sample chi-squared tests and stepwise linear regressions are used. The results show that environmental information alone fails to encourage car owners’ non-motorized travel. When health information is added, information intervention can effectively encourage a time increase in walking and cycling as well as a time and trip decrease in car use in the short term. But the long-term effect is not significant after a year and a half. Moreover, there are no significant differences between the high and the low target settings in health information for encouraging non-motorized travel. In terms of PMT constructs, severity has a significant relationship with the change of time or trip on foot and by bicycle. Vulnerability emerges as a non-effective predictor. Reward, self-efficacy, response efficacy, and response cost are more remarkable in predicting the change of time or trip by car. This study recommends that (1) health information with a target setting is superior to environmental information, (2) reduction strategy is potentially superior to transfer strategy to control car usage, (3) policymakers should design intervention strategies relevant to the coping appraisal rather than to the threat appraisal.

Keywords: environment; health; information; intervention; protection motivation theory; non-motorized travel (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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