Social identity based motivation to engage in collective action supporting the redistribution of street space

Reallocation of street space to active travel modes remains contested, despite the need for a sustainable mobility transition. Citizen engagement plays a crucial role in pushing city councils to take action and provide safe infrastructure for cyclists and pedestrians. In this study, the authors assess what drives active support for policies redistributing street space, focusing on transport user groups and their social identities that may influence active engagement in favor (or in opposition) to these transport policies. The authors draw on the Social Identity Model of Collective Action to investigate processes influencing active policy support as a form of collective action. Based on a representative sample of German citizens (N = 615), the authors observe a medium–low willingness to get actively engaged. Findings suggest that people identifying with minority groups (e.g. cyclists) profiting from changes to the status quo are most willing to support policies redistributing street space. A sense of collective efficacy and perceived social pressure within the group through social norms seem particularly important. As social identity processes appear to influence people’s policy support more so than their mode choice itself, there are widespread implications for the mobility transition. The authors discuss the benefits of considering social identities from the perspective of policy makers as well as citizen initiatives.

• Record URL:
  https://doi.org/10.1016/j.trf.2023.01.009
• Record URL:
  http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1369847823000141
• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/13698478
• Supplemental Notes:
  • © 2023 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved. Abstract reprinted with permission of Elsevier.
• Authors:
  • Allert, Viktoria
  • Reese, Gerhard
• Publication Date: 2023-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Web
• Features: References;
• Pagination: pp 9-24
• Serial:
  • Transportation Research Part F: Traffic Psychology and Behaviour
  • Volume: 94
  • Issue Number: 0
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 1369-8478
  • Serial URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/journal/13698478

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Built environment; Infrastructure; Motivation; Nonmotorized transportation; Social factors; Sustainable development
• Geographic Terms: Germany
• Subject Areas: Highways; Pedestrians and Bicyclists; Safety and Human Factors; Society;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01874135
• Record Type: Publication
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 23 2023 9:17AM