Evaluating Attitudes Toward Green Travel Modes in China

China is a rapidly urbanizing country with concurrent dramatic increases in auto ownership and use that present unique challenges to the form and function of its cities. Congestion, air pollution, public health and safety are all major concerns for policy makers, and solutions such as expanding public transit and restrictions on auto ownership and use have been tried in cities across the country. However, there is relatively little known about public attitudes toward non-automotive “green” transport. This research contributes to this aspect of he literature by using a unique survey of Chinese adults (n=3,887) to describe attitudes toward car ownership, use and green travel modes by income and other demographic variables. The data presented reflect that attitudes towards automobility and green transport in China are nuanced, but critically the results suggest that automobility has encroached on all aspects of travel. Respondents are skeptical of many policies that restrict auto usage but are overwhelmingly concerned that cars diminished the comfort and safety of walking or bicycling. The policy implications and opportunities from these results are discussed.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • This paper was sponsored by TRB committee ABE90 Transportation in the Developing Countries.
• Corporate Authors:

  Transportation Research Board

  500 Fifth Street, NW
  Washington, DC  United States  20001
• Authors:
  • King, David
  • Jiang, Tian
  • Guo, Hongwei
  • Jiang, Yulin
• Conference:
  • Transportation Research Board 93rd Annual Meeting
  • Location: Washington DC
  • Date: 2014-1-12 to 2014-1-16
• Date: 2014

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Features: References; Tables;
• Pagination: 18p
• Monograph Title: TRB 93rd Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Air pollution; Attitudes; Automobile ownership; Environmental impacts; Policy; Public health; Public transit; Safety; Traffic congestion; Urbanization
• Geographic Terms: China
• Subject Areas: Environment; Highways; Policy; Public Transportation; I15: Environment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01516800
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: 14-3911
• Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
• Created Date: Mar 4 2014 11:34AM