Evaluating Attitudes toward Green Travel Modes in China

摘要

China is a rapidly urbanizing country with concurrent dramatic increases in autoownership 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.Solutions to these problems such as expanding public transit and restrictions on auto ownershipand use have been tried in cities across the country with mixed success in stemming the rise ofautomobility. Yet there is relatively little known about public attitudes toward non-automotive“green” transport. This research contributes to this aspect of the literature by using a uniquesurvey of Chinese adults (n=3,887) to describe attitudes toward automobility and green travelmodes by income and other demographic variables. The data presented reflect that attitudestowards automobility and green transport in China are nuanced, but critically the results suggestthat cars are encroaching on all aspects of travel to the detriment of sustainable modes.Respondents are skeptical of many policies that restrict auto usage but are overwhelminglyconcerned that cars diminished the comfort and safety of walking or bicycling. The policyimplications and opportunities from these results are discussed.