IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/cog/urbpla/v6y2021i2p257-270.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Long-Distance Travel and the Urban Environment: Results from a Qualitative Study in Reykjavik

Author

Listed:
  • Johanna Raudsepp

    (Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Iceland, Iceland)

  • Áróra Árnadóttir

    (Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Iceland, Iceland)

  • Michał Czepkiewicz

    (Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Iceland, Iceland)

  • Jukka Heinonen

    (Faculty of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Iceland, Iceland)

Abstract

A compact urban form has shown many benefits in efficiency. Yet multiple studies have found that residents of urban, dense, and centrally located areas travel more frequently than those living in suburbs, small towns, or the countryside. As air travel is already causing more emissions than ground transport in many affluent urban locations and is predicted to increase, this pattern could undermine efforts in climate change mitigation. Explanations of these patterns and motivations for long-distance travel connected to the built environment have been examined quantitatively before, but with inconclusive answers. We studied this topic qualitatively in Reykjavik, Iceland, offering an in-depth perspective through semi-structured interviews. Results showed various links between the urban environment and long-distance travel. Some indications of compensatory travel behavior emerged, particularly connected to a lack of quality green areas, hectic urban life, and commuting stress. Compensatory trips were typically domestic. Furthermore, residential preferences seemed connected to leisure travel preferences—living in green neighborhoods was connected to more domestic travel to nature. The results show there are more factors for ‘escape’ trips than urban density and lack of green spaces. Examples of car-free lifestyles hindering domestic leisure travel were also found. Our study shows how a qualitative approach offers nuanced insight into the travel motivations of urbanites. Considering our results and travel motivation literature, the compensation hypothesis appears to be an overly narrow theoretical framing. Our study supports the conclusion that planning policies should aim at reducing car-dependence. Further research is needed for specific policy recommendations.

Suggested Citation

  • Johanna Raudsepp & Áróra Árnadóttir & Michał Czepkiewicz & Jukka Heinonen, 2021. "Long-Distance Travel and the Urban Environment: Results from a Qualitative Study in Reykjavik," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 6(2), pages 257-270.
  • Handle: RePEc:cog:urbpla:v6:y:2021:i:2:p:257-270
    DOI: 10.17645/up.v6i2.3989
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.cogitatiopress.com/urbanplanning/article/view/3989
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.17645/up.v6i2.3989?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Xuemei Bai & Richard J. Dawson & Diana Ürge-Vorsatz & Gian C. Delgado & Aliyu Salisu Barau & Shobhakar Dhakal & David Dodman & Lykke Leonardsen & Valérie Masson-Delmotte & Debra C. Roberts & Seth Schu, 2018. "Six research priorities for cities and climate change," Nature, Nature, vol. 555(7694), pages 23-25, March.
    2. Áróra Árnadóttir & Michał Czepkiewicz & Jukka Heinonen, 2019. "The Geographical Distribution and Correlates of Pro-Environmental Attitudes and Behaviors in an Urban Region," Energies, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-29, April.
    3. Jukka Heinonen & Michał Czepkiewicz & Áróra Árnadóttir & Juudit Ottelin, 2021. "Drivers of Car Ownership in a Car-Oriented City: A Mixed-Method Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(2), pages 1-26, January.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Jukka Heinonen & Michał Czepkiewicz, 2021. "Cities, Long-Distance Travel, and Climate Impacts," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 6(2), pages 228-231.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Johanna Raudsepp & Áróra Árnadóttir & Michał Czepkiewicz & Jukka Heinonen, 2021. "Long-Distance Travel and the Urban Environment: Results from a Qualitative Study in Reykjavik," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 6(2), pages 257-270.
    2. Adel Ben Youssef, 2024. "Climate change in the Tunisian cities: lessons learned and best practices," Environmental Economics and Policy Studies, Springer;Society for Environmental Economics and Policy Studies - SEEPS, vol. 26(2), pages 145-164, April.
    3. Shao Sun & Zunya Wang & Chuanye Hu & Ge Gao, 2021. "Understanding Climate Hazard Patterns and Urban Adaptation Measures in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(24), pages 1-12, December.
    4. Peng, Yuan & Bai, Xuemei, 2023. "What EV users say about policy efficacy: Evidence from Shanghai," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 16-26.
    5. Zhang, Guozheng & Wang, Dianhai & Cai, Zhengyi & Zeng, Jiaqi, 2024. "Competitiveness of public transit considering travel time reliability: A case study for commuter trips in Hangzhou, China," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 114(C).
    6. Cathrin Zengerling, 2019. "Governing the City of Flows: How Urban Metabolism Approaches May Strengthen Accountability in Strategic Planning," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 4(1), pages 187-199.
    7. Ahmed Mohamed Shehata, 2023. "Sustainable-Oriented Development for Urban Interface of Historic Centers," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(3), pages 1-19, February.
    8. Francesco Cappa & Stefano Franco & Federica Rosso, 2022. "Citizens and cities: Leveraging citizen science and big data for sustainable urban development," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 31(2), pages 648-667, February.
    9. Michele Acuto & Benjamin Leffel, 2021. "Understanding the global ecosystem of city networks," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 58(9), pages 1758-1774, July.
    10. Ryu Koide & Michael Lettenmeier & Satoshi Kojima & Viivi Toivio & Aryanie Amellina & Lewis Akenji, 2019. "Carbon Footprints and Consumer Lifestyles: An Analysis of Lifestyle Factors and Gap Analysis by Consumer Segment in Japan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-25, October.
    11. Vesna Ferk Savec & Sanja Jedrinović, 2024. "The Role of AI Implementation in Higher Education in Achieving the Sustainable Development Goals: A Case Study from Slovenia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(1), pages 1-22, December.
    12. Junyang Gao & Helin Liu & Yongwei Tang & Mei Luo, 2024. "Hybrid method of mapping urban residential carbon emissions with high-spatial resolution: A case study of Suzhou, China," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 51(1), pages 75-88, January.
    13. Upham, Paul & Sovacool, Benjamin K. & Monyei, Chukwuka G., 2022. "Energy and transport poverty amidst plenty: Exploring just transition, lived experiences and policy implications in Iceland," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 163(C).
    14. Nathan Fox & Victoria Campbell-Arvai & Mark Lindquist & Derek Van Berkel & Ramiro Serrano-Vergel, 2022. "Gamifying Decision Support Systems to Promote Inclusive and Engaged Urban Resilience Planning," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 7(2), pages 239-252.
    15. Cai, Bofeng & Liu, Helin & Zhang, Xiaoling & Pan, Haozhi & Zhao, Mengxue & Zheng, Tianming & Nie, Jingxin & Du, Mengbing & Dhakal, Shobhakar, 2022. "High-resolution accounting of urban emissions in China," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 325(C).
    16. Maciej Tarkowski & Krystian Puzdrakiewicz, 2021. "Connectivity Benefits of Small Zero-Emission Autonomous Ferries in Urban Mobility—Case of the Coastal City of Gdańsk (Poland)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(23), pages 1-13, November.
    17. Catalina Turcu, 2025. "Urban Greenspace, Climate Adaptation and Health Co-Benefits: Municipal Policy and Practice in London," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 22(3), pages 1-26, March.
    18. Salvia, Monica & Reckien, Diana & Geneletti, Davide & Pietrapertosa, Filomena & D'Alonzo, Valentina & De Gregorio Hurtado, Sonia & Chatterjee, Souran & Bai, Xuemei & Ürge-Vorsatz, Diana, 2023. "Understanding the motivations and implications of climate emergency declarations in cities: The case of Italy," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 178(C).
    19. Bei He & Xiaoyun Du & Junkang Li & Dan Chen, 2023. "A Effectiveness-and Efficiency-Based Improved Approach for Measuring Ecological Well-Being Performance in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-29, January.
    20. Abimbola A. Adebayo & Kris Lulofs & Michiel Adriaan Heldeweg, 2023. "Indicators, Strategies, and Rule Settings for Sustainable Public–Private Infrastructure Partnerships: From Literature Review towards Institutional Designs," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-26, June.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:cog:urbpla:v6:y:2021:i:2:p:257-270. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: António Vieira or IT Department (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.cogitatiopress.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.