Passion and heart in transport -- a sociological analysis on transport behaviour

The environmental problems originating from the transport sector are huge and even though the last decade has delivered a great number of reports and action programmes, only very little progress has been made to reduce these problems in real life. The use of private cars is still increasing and has become an integrated part of both modern society and of the life of individuals and families. It has a role to play not only as a means of transport but also in cultural and social life. One has to know and understand this whole picture if the intention is to change the pattern of transport in order to solve the environmental problems within and from the transport sector. This article is presenting the results from a research project1 that was dealing with these issues. The research project consists of two parts -- a qualitative as well as a quantitative study. The qualitative study is based on 20 in-depth interviews with 30 persons in all. Among other things the interviews were used to develop types of travellers. This has created six mobility types: The passionate car drivers, the daily life car drivers, the leisure time car drivers, the cyclists/public transport users of heart, the cyclists/public transport users of convenience and the cyclists/public transport users of necessity. The quantitative study is consisting of a survey among 1000 persons based on the qualitative interviews, and is inter alia quantifying the six mobility types. The six types will be described and analysed below. The objective of the research project was on how transport (i.e. the car) has become part of everyday life, on transport behaviour, on attitudes towards transport, on environmental consciousness and -- as an important point -- on transport as integrated in modern culture. Contradictions between motoring and environment are analysed, and some possibilities of changes in transport behaviour are discussed.