TRB Pubsindex
Text Size:
x

« Prev Next »

Return to Results | New Search

Bookmark and Share

Title:

Innovative Online Research Tools Investigating Attitudes Toward Cars Among Young People

Accession Number:

01475779

Record Type:

Component

Availability:

Transportation Research Board Business Office

500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001 United States

Abstract:

Young people are less car-reliant, a worldwide trend documented in US, Europe and Australian contexts. However little research explains how attitudes are shaping these trends. Popular hypotheses are the (i) changing social status of the car, (ii) growing role of electronic communications and (iii) growing environmental awareness, but no academic research has directly explored these issues. This paper uses innovative online research tools to explore these issues with young people. While the research was qualitative a range of common themes emerged. In general results support the hypothesis that cars have less social status in terms of prestige however they were still considered an important aspect of maturity and adulthood and of critical value for mobility Social status and the car may thus have changed from being a luxury to one of maturity. How this affects car travel is unclear. Results support the view that electronic communications are of growing importance although they are not replacing face to face interaction and unlikely to be reducing travel. Young people spoke passionately about the importance of time spent with friends and emphasised how transport could facilitate/ hinder this. It is difficult to see this as a strong basis for reduced car orientation. Not one person in the sample spontaneously mentioned that environmental concerns shaped their travel choices. Even when prompted these concerns were far removed from travel decisions. The paper concludes with a discussion of key findings, discusses the effectiveness of the methods used and outlines future areas for research in this field.

Supplemental Notes:

This paper was sponsored by TRB committee ADB10 Traveler Behavior and Values.

Monograph Accession #:

01470560

Report/Paper Numbers:

13-1141

Language:

English

Corporate Authors:

Transportation Research Board

500 Fifth Street, NW
Washington, DC 20001 United States

Authors:

Delbosc, Alexa
Currie, Graham

Pagination:

13p

Publication Date:

2013

Conference:

Transportation Research Board 92nd Annual Meeting

Location: Washington DC, United States
Date: 2013-1-13 to 2013-1-17
Sponsors: Transportation Research Board

Media Type:

Digital/other

Features:

Figures; References; Tables

Uncontrolled Terms:

Forums

Geographic Terms:

Victoria (Australia)

Subject Areas:

Highways; Society; Vehicles and Equipment; I90: Vehicles

Source Data:

Transportation Research Board Annual Meeting 2013 Paper #13-1141

Files:

TRIS, TRB, ATRI

Created Date:

Feb 5 2013 12:19PM