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Travel Behavior Change in Older Travelers: Understanding Critical Reactions to Incidents Encountered in Public Transport

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  • Catherine Sundling

    (Department of Psychology, Stockholm University, Gösta Ekman Laboratory, Stockholm SE-106 91, Sweden)

Abstract

Accessibility of travel may be better understood if psychological factors underlying change in travel behavior are known. This paper examines older (65+) travelers’ motives for changing their travel behavior. These changes are grounded in critical incidents earlier encountered in public-transport travel. A scientific framework is developed based on cognitive and behavioral theory. In 29 individual interviews, travelers’ critical reactions ( i.e. , cognitive, emotional, and/or behavioral) to 77 critical incidents were examined. By applying critical incident technique (CIT), five reaction themes were identified that had generated travel-behavior change: firm restrictions, unpredictability, unfair treatment, complicated trips, and earlier adverse experiences. To improve older travelers’ access to public transport, key findings were: (a) service must be designed so as to strengthen the feeling of being in control throughout the journey; (b) extended personal service would increase predictability in the travel chain and decrease travel complexity; consequently, (c) when designing new services and making effective accessibility interventions, policy makers should consider and utilize underlying psychological factors that could direct traveler behavior.

Suggested Citation

  • Catherine Sundling, 2015. "Travel Behavior Change in Older Travelers: Understanding Critical Reactions to Incidents Encountered in Public Transport," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-23, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:12:y:2015:i:11:p:14741-14763:d:59044
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