Multi-actor Challenges for Development and Implementation of Sustainable Mobility in Rural Areas in the Netherlands

The transition to sustainable transportation is challenging for governments, transport operators and travellers (Liu, Yu, Trisha, & Beimborn, 2020). In this research, the challenges for development and implementation of sustainable mobility have been researched from a multi-actor perspective for the rural area. This thesis's overall research objective is: to identify the challenges and opportunities of the transition towards sustainable mobility in Dutch rural areas from a multi-actor perspective. The study area of this research is the Achterhoek. Multiple methods are used to conduct this research. A literature study was conducted into travel behaviour, sustainable transport, rural mobility, and multiple actors' role in the transition of sustainable mobility. Subsequently, an analysis was carried out of OViN and ODiN data (Onderzoek Verplaatsingen in Nederland, CBS) in which travel behaviour, motives and transport choices were presented. Besides, a survey was conducted among respondents living in the Achterhoek (N = 399). A policy analysis at the national, provincial, and regional level has been carried out concerning (sustainable) transport and mobility to gain insight into the government’s and transport operator's perspective. In-depth interviews were held with various actors in the area: the province, municipality, 8RHK (semi-government), entrepreneurs and transport operators. With a cooperative structure, actors aim at realising sustainable mobility. However, current policies focus on the provision of sustainable transportation instead of focusing on sustainable mobility, without a complete understanding of the needs, opportunities, and abilities of the travellers and the actors' goals. This is an important finding in understanding the challenges regarding developing and implementing sustainable mobility in rural areas. Therefore, for establishing sustainable mobility, an approach that emphasized changing travel behaviour for specific traveller groups will be more successful (Ahmed et al., 2020; Hamidi & Zhao, 2020; Zhang & Van Acker, 2017). From this research it can be concluded that the current travel behaviour of the people in the Achterhoek is not very sustainable. Dominant car use, little use of public transportation and indispensability of cars according to respondents will be a challenge for governments and operators when it comes to implementation of sustainable mobility. Travellers do not play a big role in most of the policies of governments and transport operators. However, as mobility is all about someone’s ability to travel from origin to destination with a certain travel mode, the travellers should also have a place in the whole transition towards sustainable mobility. Therefore, the biggest challenge is to change the travellers travel behaviour into sustainable travel behaviour.