A Comparative Analysis of Opportunities and Barriers for Changing Travel Behavior and Reducing GHG Emissions in Small and Rural Communities
This paper aimed to dive deeper into understanding attitudes around various components of traveling in a majority rural state. By speaking directly with Vermonters through in-person interviews, uniquely personal points of view were discovered and could be systematically analyzed to find commonalities and differences between residents of urban, suburban, and rural areas. Questions on day-to-day challenges of traveling, suggestions for reducing greenhouse gas emissions in their communities, responses to fuel prices, and opinions on electric vehicles were asked. A sample representative of the state was captured, and some key findings were illuminated. Rural areas struggle most frequently with traveling long distances to reach services, while urban areas are more concerned with traffic, opinions on EV ownership were fairly consistent across the state, with people being likely to consider owning an EV if prices are decreased. These interviews highlighted key questions that need to be answered so that states can develop practical and effective policies aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in rural areas. More in-depth surveys are recommended coming out of this study so that a more complete picture of potential behavioral shifts can be attained. A reduction in GHG emissions is paramount to the survival of our world and this research will add to the body of knowledge in a historically understudied population so that the authors can work more closely with small and rural communities to help combat climate change through widespread emission reduction.
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Supplemental Notes:
- This paper was sponsored by TRB committee AMS10 Standing Committee on Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Mitigation. Alternative title: A Comparative Analysis of Opportunities and Barriers for Changing Travel Behavior and Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Small and Rural Communities
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Authors:
- Quallen, Erica Lee
- Rowangould, Gregory
- Clarke, Julia
- Nelson, Clare
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Conference:
- Transportation Research Board 101st Annual Meeting
- Location: Washington DC, United States
- Date: 2022-1-9 to 2022-1-13
- Date: 2022
Language
- English
Media Info
- Media Type: Web
- Features: Figures; References; Tables;
- Pagination: 22p
Subject/Index Terms
- TRT Terms: Alternatives analysis; Electric vehicles; Greenhouse gases; Rural areas; Travel behavior
- Subject Areas: Highways; Vehicles and Equipment;
Filing Info
- Accession Number: 01852848
- Record Type: Publication
- Report/Paper Numbers: TRBAM-22-00853
- Files: TRIS, TRB, ATRI
- Created Date: Jul 25 2022 11:55AM