The Role of Technophilia and User Goals in the Intention to Use a Mobility Management Travel App

João de Abreu e Silva () and Julianno de Menezes Amorim
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João de Abreu e Silva: CERIS, Civil Engineering Research and Innovation for Sustainability, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal
Julianno de Menezes Amorim: CiTUA, Center for Innovation in Territory, Urbanism and Architecture, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Av. Rovisco Pais, 1049-001 Lisboa, Portugal

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 22, 1-14

Abstract: The ubiquitous use of mobile devices along with the amount of traffic, transportation services, and travel pattern data available has led to the emergence and deployment of smartphone applications for providing information about personal travel management. Several of these travel apps are aimed at voluntary travel behavior change (VTBC) to support and increase sustainable mobility, and have led to the development of research to investigate their influence on travel behavior. Here, the aim is to study the role of technophilia and goal-framing theory in the intention to adopt and situationally use a prospective VTBC travel app. A Structural Equation Model is developed with the aim of empirically testing a sample of 971 respondents collected in two suburban corridors in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area. The results support that goal-framing theory is important for explaining the adoption of VTBC travel apps. Gain and normative motives are more relevant than hedonic motives, pointing to the importance of their tangible benefits. Frequent car users may benefit from VTBC travel apps in terms of encouraging behavioral changes, supporting sustainable mobility management solutions. The results also outline the importance of technophilia and the current use of travel apps in influencing the intention to use VTBC apps.

Keywords: voluntary travel behavior change travel apps; technophilia; goal-framing theory; sustainable mobility (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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