Understanding how transport choices are affected by the environment and health: views expressed in a study on the use of carbon calculators.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the influence that the provision of environmental information might be able to make on personal travel behaviour through analysis of the views of members of the public expressed in a study for the UK Department for Transport on attitudes towards carbon calculator tools.


METHODS
A three-stage qualitative survey taking an ideographic approach to analysing public attitudes to the use of carbon calculator tools in relation to making transport decisions.


METHODS
Interviews and discussion groups with stakeholders, non-users and users providing extensive data that were analysed using the British Market Research Bureau's matrix mapping methodology.


RESULTS
Despite considerable awareness of climate change as an issue, personal carbon emissions were not found to have much influence on personal transport choice, which could be seen as being dominated by issues of cost (both in time and money), comfort and convenience.


CONCLUSIONS
The spatial and temporal dislocation of the cause and effects of climate change make it difficult to link the impacts of personal travel behaviour with specific activities. If environmental- and health-based information is to be provided as a lever to change travel behaviour, it may be necessary to provide information on issues such as local air pollution and personal health impacts in order to link wider benefits with a travel user's self-interest.
Chatterton
T J
TJ
Air Quality Management Resource Centre, Institute for Sustainability, Health and Environment, University of the West of England, Bristol BS16 1QY, UK. aqmrc@uwe.ac.uk
Coulter
A
A
Musselwhite
C
C
Lyons
G
G
Clegg
S
S
D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis*; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003625:Data Collection; D030881:Disclosure; D017144:Focus Groups; D017752:Greenhouse Effect; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D009626:Terminology as Topic; D014186:Transportation / Q000379:methods*; D006113:United Kingdom; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000032:analysis*
D000393:Air Pollutants; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D002244:Carbon