IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/trapol/v74y2019icp63-72.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Resistance to change: Car use and routines

Author

Listed:
  • Lattarulo, Patrizia
  • Masucci, Valentino
  • Pazienza, Maria Grazia

Abstract

The economics literature has shown that individual behaviour is not necessarily driven by rational principles but is mainly influenced by emotional and habit-related factors (Hoffman et al. 2017). An opportunity to test individual transport attitudes was offered by a radical change in the mobility pattern induced for a short period by a big event which took place in Florence, a medium-sized historical Italian city. This event offered an opportunity to analyse how commuters adapted to the transport reorganization, which aimed to prevent car use during the event. We perform an empirical analysis on a sample of employees, comparing transport choices during the event to their stated ordinary behaviour. The paper focuses on analysing the decision to modify transport choice in changed circumstances with particular reference to changes in general transport costs (GTC). The findings highlight that, notwithstanding a sizeable shift in relative convenience among alternative modes as measured by GTC, commuters and especially car drivers showed resistance to adapting to the big event.

Suggested Citation

  • Lattarulo, Patrizia & Masucci, Valentino & Pazienza, Maria Grazia, 2019. "Resistance to change: Car use and routines," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 63-72.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:trapol:v:74:y:2019:i:c:p:63-72
    DOI: 10.1016/j.tranpol.2018.11.013
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0967070X18301495
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.tranpol.2018.11.013?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Dolan, Paul & Kavetsos, Georgios & Krekel, Christian & Mavridis, Dimitris & Metcalfe, Robert & Senik, Claudia & Szymanski, Stefan & Ziebarth, Nicolas R., 2019. "Quantifying the intangible impact of the Olympics using subjective well-being data," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 177(C), pages 1-1.
    2. Alois Stutzer & Bruno S. Frey, 2008. "Stress that Doesn't Pay: The Commuting Paradox," Scandinavian Journal of Economics, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 110(2), pages 339-366, June.
    3. List, John A, et al, 2001. "Academic Economists Behaving Badly? A Survey on Three Areas of Unethical Behavior," Economic Inquiry, Western Economic Association International, vol. 39(1), pages 162-170, January.
    4. Tommy Gärling & Kay Axhausen, 2003. "Introduction: Habitual travel choice," Transportation, Springer, vol. 30(1), pages 1-11, February.
    5. Horrace, William C. & Oaxaca, Ronald L., 2006. "Results on the bias and inconsistency of ordinary least squares for the linear probability model," Economics Letters, Elsevier, vol. 90(3), pages 321-327, March.
    6. P.B. Goodwin, 1977. "Habit and Hysteresis in Mode Choice," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 14(1), pages 95-98, February.
    7. Alós-Ferrer, Carlos & Strack, Fritz, 2014. "From dual processes to multiple selves: Implications for economic behavior," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 1-11.
    8. Schneider, Robert J., 2013. "Theory of routine mode choice decisions: An operational framework to increase sustainable transportation," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 25(C), pages 128-137.
    9. Longsheng Sun & Mark H. Karwan & Changhyun Kwon, 2016. "Incorporating Driver Behaviors in Network Design Problems: Challenges and Opportunities," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 36(4), pages 454-478, July.
    10. Steg, Linda, 2005. "Car use: lust and must. Instrumental, symbolic and affective motives for car use," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 39(2-3), pages 147-162.
    11. Mark Wardman, 2014. "Price Elasticities of Surface Travel Demand A Meta-analysis of UK Evidence," Journal of Transport Economics and Policy, University of Bath, vol. 48(3), pages 367-384, September.
    12. Eran Ben-Elia & Erel Avineri, 2015. "Response to Travel Information: A Behavioural Review," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 35(3), pages 352-377, May.
    13. Markus C. Becker, 2004. "Organizational routines: a review of the literature," Industrial and Corporate Change, Oxford University Press and the Associazione ICC, vol. 13(4), pages 643-678, August.
    14. Rose, Geoff & Marfurt, Heidi, 2007. "Travel behaviour change impacts of a major ride to work day event," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 41(4), pages 351-364, May.
    15. Chris Starmer, 2000. "Developments in Non-expected Utility Theory: The Hunt for a Descriptive Theory of Choice under Risk," Journal of Economic Literature, American Economic Association, vol. 38(2), pages 332-382, June.
    16. Jörgen Garvill & Agneta Marell & Annika Nordlund, 2003. "Effects of increased awareness on choice of travel mode," Transportation, Springer, vol. 30(1), pages 63-79, February.
    17. Innocenti, Alessandro & Lattarulo, Patrizia & Pazienza, Maria Grazia, 2013. "Car stickiness: Heuristics and biases in travel choice," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 25(C), pages 158-168.
    18. Christin Hoffmann & Charles Abraham & Mathew P. White & Susan Ball & Stephen M. Skippon, 2017. "What cognitive mechanisms predict travel mode choice? A systematic review with meta-analysis," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(5), pages 631-652, September.
    19. Slovic, Paul & Finucane, Melissa & Peters, Ellen & MacGregor, Donald G., 2002. "Rational actors or rational fools: implications of the affect heuristic for behavioral economics," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 31(4), pages 329-342.
    20. Carlo V. Fiorio & Marco Percoco, 2007. "Would You Stick To Using Your Car Even If Charged? Evidence from Trento, Italy," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 27(5), pages 605-620, February.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Mundaca, Luis & Román-Collado, Rocío & Cansino, José M., 2022. "Assessing the impacts of social norms on low-carbon mobility options," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    2. Karolin Schmidt & Hannah Wallis & Theresa Sieverding & Ellen Matthies, 2022. "Examining COVID-19-Related Changes toward More Climate-Friendly Food Consumption in Germany," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-26, April.
    3. Andersson, Alfred & Winslott Hiselius, Lena & Adell, Emeli, 2020. "The effect of marketing messages on the motivation to reduce private car use in different segments," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 90(C), pages 22-30.
    4. van Wee, Bert & Witlox, Frank, 2021. "COVID-19 and its long-term effects on activity participation and travel behaviour: A multiperspective view," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    5. Johannes Gessner & Wolfgang Habla & Ulrich J. Wagner, 2023. "Can Social Comparisons and Moral Appeals Induce a Modal Shift Towards Low-Emission Transport Modes?," CRC TR 224 Discussion Paper Series crctr224_2023_451, University of Bonn and University of Mannheim, Germany.
    6. Thamires Ferreira Schubert & Elisa Henning & Simone Becker Lopes, 2020. "Analysis of the Possibility of Transport Mode Switch: A Case Study for Joinville Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-20, June.
    7. Xiao Han & Yun Yu & Bin Jia & Zi‐You Gao & Rui Jiang & H. Michael Zhang, 2021. "Coordination Behavior in Mode Choice: Laboratory Study of Equilibrium Transformation and Selection," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 30(10), pages 3635-3656, October.
    8. Johannes Gessner & Wolfgang Habla & Ulrich J. Wagner, 2023. "Can Social Comparisons and Moral Appeals Induce a Modal Shift Towards Low-Emission Transport Modes?," CRC TR 224 Discussion Paper Series crctr224_2023_451v2, University of Bonn and University of Mannheim, Germany.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Donna, Javier D., 2018. "Measuring Long-Run Price Elasticities in Urban Travel Demand," MPRA Paper 90059, University Library of Munich, Germany.
    2. Quaglione, Davide & Cassetta, Ernesto & Crociata, Alessandro & Marra, Alessandro & Sarra, Alessandro, 2019. "An assessment of the role of cultural capital on sustainable mobility behaviours: Conceptual framework and empirical evidence," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 24-34.
    3. Levy, Nadav & Klein, Ido & Ben-Elia, Eran, 2018. "Emergence of cooperation and a fair system optimum in road networks: A game-theoretic and agent-based modelling approach," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 46-55.
    4. González, Rosa Marina & Marrero, Ángel Simón & Cherchi, Elisabetta, 2017. "Testing for inertia effect when a new tram is implemented," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 98(C), pages 150-159.
    5. Tim F. Thormann & Pamela Wicker, 2024. "Environmentally-Friendly Stadium Travel of Football Fans: A Stated Preferences Study," Journal of Sports Economics, , vol. 25(1), pages 3-29, January.
    6. Gustav Bösehans & Ian Walker, 2020. "Do supra-modal traveller types exist? A travel behaviour market segmentation using Goal framing theory," Transportation, Springer, vol. 47(1), pages 243-273, February.
    7. Toşa, Cristian & Sato, Hitomi & Morikawa, Takayuki & Miwa, Tomio, 2018. "Commuting behavior in emerging urban areas: Findings of a revealed-preferences and stated-intentions survey in Cluj-Napoca, Romania," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 78-93.
    8. Caspar G. Chorus & Benedict G. C. Dellaert, 2012. "Travel Choice Inertia: The Joint Role of Risk Aversion and Learning," Journal of Transport Economics and Policy, University of Bath, vol. 46(1), pages 139-155, January.
    9. Xiao Han & Yun Yu & Bin Jia & Zi‐You Gao & Rui Jiang & H. Michael Zhang, 2021. "Coordination Behavior in Mode Choice: Laboratory Study of Equilibrium Transformation and Selection," Production and Operations Management, Production and Operations Management Society, vol. 30(10), pages 3635-3656, October.
    10. Pascal Un & Sonia Adelé & Flore Vallet & Jean-Marie Burkhardt, 2022. "How Does My Train Line Run? Elicitation of Six Information-Seeking Profiles of Regular Suburban Train Users," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-22, February.
    11. Busch-Geertsema, Annika & Lanzendorf, Martin, 2017. "From university to work life – Jumping behind the wheel? Explaining mode change of students making the transition to professional life," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 181-196.
    12. Barrafrem, Kinga & Hausfeld, Jan, 2020. "Tracing risky decisions for oneself and others: The role of intuition and deliberation," Journal of Economic Psychology, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    13. Büchel, Beda & Marra, Alessio Daniele & Corman, Francesco, 2022. "COVID-19 as a window of opportunity for cycling: Evidence from the first wave," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 116(C), pages 144-156.
    14. Daniel Navarro-Martinez & Graham Loomes & Andrea Isoni & David Butler & Larbi Alaoui, 2018. "Boundedly rational expected utility theory," Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, Springer, vol. 57(3), pages 199-223, December.
    15. Urbanek, Anna, 2021. "Potential of modal shift from private cars to public transport: A survey on the commuters’ attitudes and willingness to switch – A case study of Silesia Province, Poland," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    16. Müggenburg, Hannah & Busch-Geertsema, Annika & Lanzendorf, Martin, 2015. "Mobility biographies: A review of achievements and challenges of the mobility biographies approach and a framework for further research," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 151-163.
    17. Corinne Mulley & Liang Ma, 2018. "How the longer term success of a social marketing program is influenced by socio-demographics and the built environment," Transportation, Springer, vol. 45(2), pages 291-309, March.
    18. Lee, Yongsung & Guhathakurta, Subhrajit, 2018. "An analysis of the effects of suburban densification on vehicle use for shopping: Do existing residents respond to land-use changes in the same way as recent movers?," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 193-204.
    19. Hoffmann, Christin & Abraham, Charles & Skippon, Stephen M. & White, Mathew P., 2018. "Cognitive construction of travel modes among high-mileage car users and non-car users – A Repertory Grid analysis," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 216-233.
    20. Patrizia Lattarulo & Valentino Masucci & Maria Grazia Pazienza, 2014. "Is it really impossible to change transport mode behaviours? An experiment for sustainable urban mobility," Rapporti e ricerche 600, Istituto Regionale per la Programmazione Economica della Toscana.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:trapol:v:74:y:2019:i:c:p:63-72. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/wps/find/journaldescription.cws_home/30473/description#description .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.