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Incentivizing Commuter Cycling by Financial and Non-Financial Rewards

Author

Listed:
  • Vojtěch Máca

    (Environment Centre, Charles University, 162 00 Prague, Czech Republic)

  • Milan Ščasný

    (Environment Centre, Charles University, 162 00 Prague, Czech Republic)

  • Iva Zvěřinová

    (Environment Centre, Charles University, 162 00 Prague, Czech Republic)

  • Michal Jakob

    (FEE, Artificial Intelligence Center, Czech Technical University in Prague, 121 35 Prague, Czech Republic)

  • Jan Hrnčíř

    (Umotional s.r.o., 120 00 Prague, Czech Republic)

Abstract

Current mobility patterns over-rely on transport modes that do not benefit sustainable and healthy lifestyles. To explore the potential for active mobility, we conducted a randomized experiment aimed at increasing regular commuter cycling in cities. In designing the experiment, we teamed up with developers of the “Cyclers” smartphone app to improve the effectiveness of the app by evaluating financial and non-financial motivational features. Participants in the experiment were recruited among new users of the app, and were randomly assigned to one of four different motivational treatments (smart gamification, two variants of a financial reward, and a combination of smart gamification and a financial reward) or a control group (no specific motivation). Our analysis suggests that people can be effectively motivated to engage in more frequent commuter cycling with incentives via a smartphone app. Offering small financial rewards seems to be more effective than smart gamification. A combination of both motivational treatments—smart gamification and financial rewards—may work the same or slightly better than financial rewards alone. We demonstrate that small financial rewards embedded in smartphone apps such as “Cyclers” can be effective in nudging people to commute by bike more often.

Suggested Citation

  • Vojtěch Máca & Milan Ščasný & Iva Zvěřinová & Michal Jakob & Jan Hrnčíř, 2020. "Incentivizing Commuter Cycling by Financial and Non-Financial Rewards," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-14, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:17:p:6033-:d:401064
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Susan Handy & Bert van Wee & Maarten Kroesen, 2014. "Promoting Cycling for Transport: Research Needs and Challenges," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(1), pages 4-24, January.
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    3. Rodrigo Scotini & Ian Skinner & Francesca Racioppi & Virginia Fusé & Jonas De Oliveira Bertucci & Rie Tsutsumi, 2017. "Supporting Active Mobility and Green Jobs through the Promotion of Cycling," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-13, December.
    4. Gatersleben, Birgitta & Appleton, Katherine M., 2007. "Contemplating cycling to work: Attitudes and perceptions in different stages of change," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 41(4), pages 302-312, May.
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    Cited by:

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    2. Minnich, Aljoscha, 2023. "Gamification in the transport sector: Quasi-experimental evidence from a bicycle navigation app," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 167(C).
    3. Fernando Fonseca & Paulo Ribeiro & Carolina Neiva, 2023. "A Planning Practice Method to Assess the Potential for Cycling and to Design a Bicycle Network in a Starter Cycling City in Portugal," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-17, March.
    4. Nosratzadeh, Hossein & Bhowmick, Debjit & Carmona, Ana Belén Ríos & Thompson, Jason & Thai, Thao & Pearson, Lauren & Beck, Ben, 2024. "A scoping review of the design and characteristics of e-bike financial incentives," OSF Preprints 5xgch, Center for Open Science.
    5. Nenad Djokic & Nikola Milicevic & Branimir Kalas & Ines Djokic & Vera Mirovic, 2023. "E-Bicycle as a Green and Physically Active Mode of Transport from the Aspect of Students: TPB and Financial Incentives," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(3), pages 1-11, January.
    6. Aljoscha Minnich & Holger A. Rau & Jan Christian Schlüter, 2022. "The effects of gift vouchers and environmental certificates on the demand for a collective DRT system," Transportation, Springer, vol. 49(6), pages 1683-1714, December.

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