Which factors influence non-motorized mobility and mode choice? A practical application of the Theory of Planned Behaviour.

Abstract

Motivity and health are key prerequisites for safe, independent and injury-free mobility and, subsequently, basic conditions for well-being and social participation in advanced years. To address the importance of active mobility with increasing age, the project “Pimp your Skills”, funded by the Austrian Road Safety Fund, was carried out (Eichhorn et al., 2016). The project aimed at identifying factors relating to mobility behaviour as well as the underlying motives behind such behaviour by means of a population survey. The theory of planned behaviour was used to explain non-motorised mobility behaviour for the target group, namely the current elderly (65+ years of age) as well as the future elderly (50+ years of age). The determining factors for walking and cycling were examined, and regression analyses carried out. The results show that meaningful relationships between behavioural beliefs, perceived skills, habits and subjective norms could be established for cycling and walking behaviour.