Applying Thematic Analysis to Understand Behaviour in Walking School Bus Programs: A Pilot Study in the City of Ferrara

Giuseppe Rocco (), Ludovica Loiacono (), Susanna Mancinelli (), Massimiliano Mazzanti (), Maddalena Nonato () and Emilio Paolo Visintin ()
Additional contact information
Giuseppe Rocco: Università degli studi di Ferrara
Ludovica Loiacono: Università degli studi di Ferrara
Susanna Mancinelli: Università degli studi di Ferrara
Massimiliano Mazzanti: Università degli studi di Ferrara
Maddalena Nonato: Università degli studi di Ferrara
Emilio Paolo Visintin: Università degli studi di Ferrara

No 1025, SEEDS Working Papers from SEEDS, Sustainability Environmental Economics and Dynamics Studies

Abstract: This study applies insights from behavioural economics to examine the challenges surrounding the adoption of the Walking School Bus (WSB), a sustainable school transportation initiative. Using thematic analysis of interviews with schoolteachers in Ferrara, Italy, we identify three key themes influencing participation: Service Characteristics, Family Determinants, and School Context. Our analysis reveals that behavioural mechanisms—such as status quo bias and the collective action problem related to volunteer recruitment—pose significant barriers to adoption, even in the face of broad recognition of the program’s benefits. The findings suggest that addressing these behavioural obstacles requires targeted interventions aimed at mitigating cognitive biases and improving decision-making processes that currently hinder participation. This research offers empirical evidence that successful implementation depends on a nuanced understanding of the interaction between practical design features and deep-seated psychological barriers that shape family mobility choices. These insights contribute to behavioural theory and offer practical guidance for promoting sustainable transport behaviours in urban settings.

Keywords: walking school bus; behavioural economics; thematic analysis; implementation challenges; sustainable mobility (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Pages: 17 pages
Date: 2025-10, Revised 2025-10
New Economics Papers: this item is included in nep-mac and nep-tre
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://www.sustainability-seeds.org/papers/RePec/srt/wpaper/1025.pdf First version, 2025 (application/pdf)
http://www.sustainability-seeds.org/papers/RePec/srt/wpaper/1025.pdf Revised version, 2025 (application/pdf)

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:srt:wpaper:1025

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in SEEDS Working Papers from SEEDS, Sustainability Environmental Economics and Dynamics Studies
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Alessandro Palma ().