Project

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Moving towards sustainability? The consequences of residential relocation for mobility and the built environment. An experimental intervention study

Applicant Haefeli Ueli
Number 107063
Funding scheme NRP 54 Sustainable Development of the Built Environment
Research institution Interface Politikstudien Forschung Beratung
Institution of higher education Companies/ Private Industry - FP
Main discipline Sociology
Start/End 01.10.2005 - 31.03.2008
Approved amount 229'962.00
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All Disciplines (2)

Discipline
Sociology
Psychology

Keywords (3)

mobility behaviour; mobility management; biographic research

Lay Summary (English)

Lead
Lay summary
How can mobility behaviour be changed in favour of sustainability?

Background
Transport infrastructure now makes up one third of the built environment in Switzerland. Particularly in agglomerations, traffic problems have increased.There is a consensus among experts that the transport policy measures implemented so far have not been able to promote a development towards sustainability. Part of society shows little interest in changing its personal mobility habits, which are characterized by deeply entrenched habits and routines.

Objectives
Recent studies suggest that routine behaviour becomes weakened at certain moments when people reorganize their personal lives, for example when starting a family or moving home. With this in mind, the project seeks to identify potential for impacting personal mobility through transport policy, taking residential location into account. At the same time, the project aims at a better understanding of the mobility-relevant decision- making processes associated with moving house. The results should provide insight into the way people generally change their mobility patterns during a time of personal transition.

Methods
The project will be conducted in four steps: - In-depth biographical interviews in order to reconstruct the decisive relationships and effects in individual mobility behaviours - Panel survey in two phases, yielding representative evidence - Experimental intervention: One half of the survey participants will be provided with information and advice relevant to mobility; later differences in mobility will be tracked between the two groups - Qualitative case study to understand what impact intervention had on the target group

Significance
The research will demonstrate how individuals change their mobility patterns during a time of personal transition. It aims to shift people's mobility behaviour and preferred modes of mobility in the direction of greater sustainability.

Direct link to Lay Summary Last update: 21.02.2013

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