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Towards a differentiated understanding of active travel behaviour: Using social theory to explore everyday commuting

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  • Guell, C.
  • Panter, J.
  • Jones, N.R.
  • Ogilvie, D.

Abstract

Fostering physical activity is an established public health priority for the primary prevention of a variety of chronic diseases. One promising population approach is to seek to embed physical activity in everyday lives by promoting walking and cycling to and from work (‘active commuting’) as an alternative to driving. Predominantly quantitative epidemiological studies have investigated travel behaviours, their determinants and how they may be changed towards more active choices. This study aimed to depart from narrow behavioural approaches to travel and investigate the social context of commuting with qualitative social research methods. Within a social practice theory framework, we explored how people describe their commuting experiences and make commuting decisions, and how travel behaviour is embedded in and shaped by commuters' complex social worlds. Forty-nine semi-structured interviews and eighteen photo-elicitation interviews with accompanying field notes were conducted with a subset of the Commuting and Health in Cambridge study cohort, based in the UK. The findings are discussed in terms of three particularly pertinent facets of the commuting experience. Firstly, choice and decisions are shaped by the constantly changing and fluid nature of commuters' social worlds. Secondly, participants express ambiguities in relation to their reasoning, ambitions and identities as commuters. Finally, commuting needs to be understood as an embodied and emotional practice. With this in mind, we suggest that everyday decision-making in commuting requires the tactical negotiation of these complexities. This study can help to explain the limitations of more quantitative and static models and frameworks in predicting travel behaviour and identify future research directions.

Suggested Citation

  • Guell, C. & Panter, J. & Jones, N.R. & Ogilvie, D., 2012. "Towards a differentiated understanding of active travel behaviour: Using social theory to explore everyday commuting," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 75(1), pages 233-239.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:socmed:v:75:y:2012:i:1:p:233-239
    DOI: 10.1016/j.socscimed.2012.01.038
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    6. Guell, Cornelia & Ogilvie, David & Green, Judith, 2023. "Changing mobility practices. Can meta-ethnography inform transferable and policy-relevant theory?," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 337(C).
    7. Phoenix, Cassandra & Bell, Sarah L., 2019. "Beyond “Move More”: Feeling the Rhythms of physical activity in mid and later-life," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 231(C), pages 47-54.
    8. Greg Marsden, & Jillian Anable, & Chatterton, Tim & Docherty, Iain & Faulconbridge, James & Murray, Lesley & Roby, Helen & Shires, Jeremy, 2020. "Studying disruptive events: Innovations in behaviour, opportunities for lower carbon transport policy?," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 89-101.
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    11. Kearns, Michelle & Ledsham, Trudy & Savan, Beth & Scott, James, 2019. "Increasing cycling for transportation through mentorship programs," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 128(C), pages 34-45.
    12. Ivory, Vivienne C. & Russell, Marie & Witten, Karen & Hooper, Carolyn M. & Pearce, Jamie & Blakely, Tony, 2015. "What shape is your neighbourhood? Investigating the micro geographies of physical activity," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 133(C), pages 313-321.
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