Car-Free Day on a University Campus: Determinants of Participation and Potential Impacts on Sustainable Travel Behavior

Jorge Ubirajara Pedreira Junior, Antônio Nélson Rodrigues da Silva and Cira Souza Pitombo
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Jorge Ubirajara Pedreira Junior: Department of Transportation Engineering, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo (EESC-USP), São Paulo 13566-590, Brazil
Antônio Nélson Rodrigues da Silva: Department of Transportation Engineering, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo (EESC-USP), São Paulo 13566-590, Brazil
Cira Souza Pitombo: Department of Transportation Engineering, São Carlos School of Engineering, University of São Paulo (EESC-USP), São Paulo 13566-590, Brazil

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 6, 1-20

Abstract: This research investigates the potential of inducing willingness to travel less by car with a Car-Free Day campaign and reveals under which circumstances it could be more effective. An online survey was conducted after the event, wherein questions about attitudes toward the campaign, participation and intention of traveling less by car, as well as sociodemographic attributes and travel features were asked. First, the impacts of situational constraints (travel distance, trip chaining and perceived insecurity) on participation were investigated. Secondly, it was examined whether engaging with the campaign increases the intention of traveling less by car after controlling for sociodemographic attributes, attitudes toward the campaign and situational constraints. Logistic regression models have shown that increased travel distance and trip chaining curb participation in the campaign and that the odds of being positively influenced by the campaign is almost four times higher for individuals who engaged with the campaign compared with those who did not participate. This study provides important empirical evidence of a Car-Free Day campaign’s potential of fostering a more sustainable travel behavior, which so far has not been systematically investigated. Finally, relevant policy implications and guidelines on the planning and conduction of a Car-Free Day event that could enhance the likelihood of its success were discussed.

Keywords: Car-Free Day; university campus mobility; soft transport policy; travel behavior; logistic regression (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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