IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v10y2018i10p3686-d175624.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Understanding Acceptability towards Sustainable Transportation Behavior: A Case Study of China

Author

Listed:
  • Muhammad Waqas

    (School of Economics and Management, Chang’an University, 2nd Ring Road, Beilin District, Xi’an 710072, Shaanxi, China)

  • Qian-li Dong

    (School of Economics and Management, Chang’an University, 2nd Ring Road, Beilin District, Xi’an 710072, Shaanxi, China)

  • Naveed Ahmad

    (School of Management, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 127 West Youyi Road, Beilin District, Xi’an 710072, Shaanxi, China)

  • Yuming Zhu

    (School of Management, Northwestern Polytechnical University, 127 West Youyi Road, Beilin District, Xi’an 710072, Shaanxi, China)

  • Muhammad Nadeem

    (School of Social Sciences, Lanzhou University, No. 222, Tianshui South Road, Lanzhou 730000, Gansu, China)

Abstract

Nowadays, increased usage of motorized vehicles has become a cause of serious environmental and health problems which results in noise pollution, air pollution and the emission of greenhouse gases. Sustainable transportation options such as green public buses, subways and public cycling have been introduced to improve environmental quality. However, their adoption is still in the initial stage. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the consumer attitude towards sustainable transportation, and their willingness to choose different environmentally friendly options like cycling and public green transportation by applying a norm activation model (NAM). More specifically, this study explored the role of different predictors (sustainable transport benefits awareness, traffic problem awareness, government policies and symbolic motives of using a car) affecting citizen’s acceptability to sustainable transportation options with mediating role of environmental concern and moderating role of self-transcendence and self-enhancement. A questionnaire-based survey conducted in four major metropolitan cities of China including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Xi’an found that acceptability towards sustainable transportation is derived from sustainable transport benefits awareness and traffic. Symbolic motives of the car have a negative association with acceptability towards sustainable transportation. The mediating effect of environmental concerns was proved, which extends the role of NAM in this study. Self-transcendence and self-enhancement have positive and negative moderating effects consecutively towards the acceptability of sustainable transportation. This study has potential implications for the government of China, transportation, and urban planning departments in order to take necessary measures to promote sustainable transportation behavior in Chinese citizens.

Suggested Citation

  • Muhammad Waqas & Qian-li Dong & Naveed Ahmad & Yuming Zhu & Muhammad Nadeem, 2018. "Understanding Acceptability towards Sustainable Transportation Behavior: A Case Study of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(10), pages 1-24, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:10:p:3686-:d:175624
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/10/3686/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/10/10/3686/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Minton, Ann P. & Rose, Randall L., 1997. "The Effects of Environmental Concern on Environmentally Friendly Consumer Behavior: An Exploratory Study," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 40(1), pages 37-48, September.
    2. Vredin Johansson, Maria & Heldt, Tobias & Johansson, Per, 2006. "The effects of attitudes and personality traits on mode choice," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 40(6), pages 507-525, July.
    3. Egbue, Ona & Long, Suzanna, 2012. "Barriers to widespread adoption of electric vehicles: An analysis of consumer attitudes and perceptions," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 717-729.
    4. Eriksson, Louise & Garvill, Jörgen & Nordlund, Annika M., 2008. "Acceptability of single and combined transport policy measures: The importance of environmental and policy specific beliefs," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 42(8), pages 1117-1128, October.
    5. Cristian Domarchi & Alejandro Tudela & Angélica González, 2008. "Effect of attitudes, habit and affective appraisal on mode choice: an application to university workers," Transportation, Springer, vol. 35(5), pages 585-599, August.
    6. Vermeir, Iris & Verbeke, Wim, 2008. "Sustainable food consumption among young adults in Belgium: Theory of planned behaviour and the role of confidence and values," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 64(3), pages 542-553, January.
    7. Roberts, James A. & Bacon, Donald R., 1997. "Exploring the Subtle Relationships between Environmental Concern and Ecologically Conscious Consumer Behavior," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 40(1), pages 79-89, September.
    8. Lee Cronbach, 1951. "Coefficient alpha and the internal structure of tests," Psychometrika, Springer;The Psychometric Society, vol. 16(3), pages 297-334, September.
    9. Rebecca C W Kwok & Anthony G O Yeh, 2004. "The Use of Modal Accessibility Gap as an Indicator for Sustainable Transport Development," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 36(5), pages 921-936, May.
    10. P. Bentler & David Weeks, 1980. "Linear structural equations with latent variables," Psychometrika, Springer;The Psychometric Society, vol. 45(3), pages 289-308, September.
    11. Lucas, Karen, 2012. "Transport and social exclusion: Where are we now?," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 20(C), pages 105-113.
    12. Xinshu Zhao & John G. Lynch & Qimei Chen, 2010. "Reconsidering Baron and Kenny: Myths and Truths about Mediation Analysis," Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Consumer Research Inc., vol. 37(2), pages 197-206, August.
    13. Albert, Gila & Toledo, Tomer & Ben-Zion, Uri, 2011. "The role of personality factors in repeated route choice behavior: behavioral economics perspective," European Transport \ Trasporti Europei, ISTIEE, Institute for the Study of Transport within the European Economic Integration, issue 48, pages 47-59.
    14. Prawira Belgiawan & Jan-Dirk Schmöcker & Maya Abou-Zeid & Joan Walker & Tzu-Chang Lee & Dick Ettema & Satoshi Fujii, 2014. "Car ownership motivations among undergraduate students in China, Indonesia, Japan, Lebanon, Netherlands, Taiwan, and USA," Transportation, Springer, vol. 41(6), pages 1227-1244, November.
    15. Li, Peilin & Zhao, Pengjun & Brand, Christian, 2018. "Future energy use and CO2 emissions of urban passenger transport in China: A travel behavior and urban form based approach," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 211(C), pages 820-842.
    16. Offer, G.J. & Howey, D. & Contestabile, M. & Clague, R. & Brandon, N.P., 2010. "Comparative analysis of battery electric, hydrogen fuel cell and hybrid vehicles in a future sustainable road transport system," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 38(1), pages 24-29, January.
    17. Beirão, Gabriela & Sarsfield Cabral, J.A., 2007. "Understanding attitudes towards public transport and private car: A qualitative study," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 14(6), pages 478-489, November.
    18. Linda Steg & Gerard Tertoolen, 1999. "Sustainable Transport Policy: The Contribution from Behavioural Scientists," Public Money & Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 19(1), pages 63-69, January.
    19. Steg, Linda, 2005. "Car use: lust and must. Instrumental, symbolic and affective motives for car use," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 39(2-3), pages 147-162.
    20. Yong‐Mi Kim, 2009. "Validation of psychometric research instruments: The case of information science," Journal of the American Society for Information Science and Technology, Association for Information Science & Technology, vol. 60(6), pages 1178-1191, June.
    21. Ozaki, Ritsuko & Sevastyanova, Katerina, 2011. "Going hybrid: An analysis of consumer purchase motivations," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 39(5), pages 2217-2227, May.
    22. Junghwa Kim & Jan-Dirk Schmöcker & Cecilia Bergstad & Satoshi Fujii & Tommy Gärling, 2014. "The influence of personality on acceptability of sustainable transport policies," Transportation, Springer, vol. 41(4), pages 855-872, July.
    23. Han, Sun Sheng, 2010. "Managing motorization in sustainable transport planning: the Singapore experience," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 18(2), pages 314-321.
    24. Stradling, S. G. & Meadows, M. L. & Beatty, S., 2000. "Helping drivers out of their cars Integrating transport policy and social psychology for sustainable change," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 7(3), pages 207-215, July.
    25. Xenias, Dimitrios & Whitmarsh, Lorraine, 2013. "Dimensions and determinants of expert and public attitudes to sustainable transport policies and technologies," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 48(C), pages 75-85.
    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. Batara Surya & Hamsina Hamsina & Ridwan Ridwan & Baharuddin Baharuddin & Firman Menne & Andi Tenri Fitriyah & Emil Salim Rasyidi, 2020. "The Complexity of Space Utilization and Environmental Pollution Control in the Main Corridor of Makassar City, South Sulawesi, Indonesia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(21), pages 1-41, November.
    2. Gabriel Popescu & Nicolae Istudor & Alina Zaharia & Maria-Claudia Diaconeasa & Ioana Panait & Marian-Cătălin Cucu, 2021. "A Macroeconomic Review of the Factors Influencing Fruit Consumption in Romania—The Road towards Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-18, November.
    3. Neil Cuthill & Mengqiu Cao & Yuqi Liu & Xing Gao & Yuerong Zhang, 2019. "The Association between Urban Public Transport Infrastructure and Social Equity and Spatial Accessibility within the Urban Environment: An Investigation of Tramlink in London," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(5), pages 1-18, February.
    4. Krystian Pietrzak & Oliwia Pietrzak & Andrzej Montwiłł, 2021. "Effects of Incorporating Rail Transport into a Zero-Emission Urban Deliveries System: Application of Light Freight Railway (LFR) Electric Trains," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(20), pages 1-24, October.
    5. Krystian Pietrzak & Oliwia Pietrzak, 2022. "Tram System as a Challenge for Smart and Sustainable Urban Public Transport: Effects of Applying Bi-Directional Trams," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(15), pages 1-29, August.
    6. Saeid Jafarzadeh Ghoushchi & Mohd Nizam Ab Rahman & Moein Soltanzadeh & Muhammad Zeeshan Rafique & Hernadewita & Fatemeh Yadegar Marangalo & Ahmad Rasdan Ismail, 2023. "Assessing Sustainable Passenger Transportation Systems to Address Climate Change Based on MCDM Methods in an Uncertain Environment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-22, February.
    7. Daqing Zu & Kang Cao & Jian Xu, 2021. "The Impacts of Transportation Sustainability on Higher Education in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(22), pages 1-17, November.

    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. Sascha von Behren & Lisa Bönisch & Ulrich Niklas & Bastian Chlond, 2020. "Revealing Motives for Car Use in Modern Cities—A Case Study from Berlin and San Francisco," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(13), pages 1-18, June.
    2. Clauss, Thomas & Döppe, Sebastian, 2016. "Why do urban travelers select multimodal travel options: A repertory grid analysis," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 93(C), pages 93-116.
    3. Hoffmann, Christin & Abraham, Charles & Skippon, Stephen M. & White, Mathew P., 2018. "Cognitive construction of travel modes among high-mileage car users and non-car users – A Repertory Grid analysis," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 118(C), pages 216-233.
    4. Herberz, Mario & Hahnel, Ulf J.J. & Brosch, Tobias, 2020. "The importance of consumer motives for green mobility: A multi-modal perspective," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 139(C), pages 102-118.
    5. Ashmore, David P. & Pojani, Dorina & Thoreau, Roselle & Christie, Nicola & Tyler, Nicholas A., 2019. "Gauging differences in public transport symbolism across national cultures: implications for policy development and transfer," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 26-38.
    6. Allen, Jaime & Muñoz, Juan Carlos & Rosell, Jordi, 2019. "Effect of a major network reform on bus transit satisfaction," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 124(C), pages 310-333.
    7. Morton, Craig & Anable, Jillian & Yeboah, Godwin & Cottrill, Caitlin, 2018. "The spatial pattern of demand in the early market for electric vehicles: Evidence from the United Kingdom," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 119-130.
    8. Lavery, T.A. & Páez, A. & Kanaroglou, P.S., 2013. "Driving out of choices: An investigation of transport modality in a university sample," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 57(C), pages 37-46.
    9. Nilsson, Måns & Nykvist, Björn, 2016. "Governing the electric vehicle transition – Near term interventions to support a green energy economy," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 179(C), pages 1360-1371.
    10. Shanmugavel, Nagarajan & Balakrishnan, Janarthanan, 2023. "Influence of pro-environmental behaviour towards behavioural intention of electric vehicles," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 187(C).
    11. Bruno, Matthew & Nikolaeva, Anna, 2020. "Towards a maintenance-based approach to mode shift: Comparing two cases of Dutch cycling policy using social practice theory," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 86(C).
    12. Saari, Ulla A. & Damberg, Svenja & Frömbling, Lena & Ringle, Christian M., 2021. "Sustainable consumption behavior of Europeans: The influence of environmental knowledge and risk perception on environmental concern and behavioral intention," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 189(C).
    13. Quaglione, Davide & Cassetta, Ernesto & Crociata, Alessandro & Marra, Alessandro & Sarra, Alessandro, 2019. "An assessment of the role of cultural capital on sustainable mobility behaviours: Conceptual framework and empirical evidence," Socio-Economic Planning Sciences, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 24-34.
    14. Emel Yarimoglu & Gul Binboga, 2019. "Understanding sustainable consumption in an emerging country: The antecedents and consequences of the ecologically conscious consumer behavior model," Business Strategy and the Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 28(4), pages 642-651, May.
    15. Tsarenko, Yelena & Ferraro, Carla & Sands, Sean & McLeod, Colin, 2013. "Environmentally conscious consumption: The role of retailers and peers as external influences," Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services, Elsevier, vol. 20(3), pages 302-310.
    16. Kerstin Westin & Annika Nordlund & Johan Jansson & Jonas Nilsson, 2020. "Goal Framing as a Tool for Changing People’s Car Travel Behavior in Sweden," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-18, May.
    17. Bouscasse, H. & Bonnel, P., 2016. "Socio-psychological determinants of mode choice habits," Working Papers 2016-05, Grenoble Applied Economics Laboratory (GAEL).
    18. Nordlund, A. & Jansson, J. & Westin, K., 2018. "Acceptability of electric vehicle aimed measures: Effects of norm activation, perceived justice and effectiveness," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 117(C), pages 205-213.
    19. Rico Krueger & Akshay Vij & Taha H. Rashidi, 2018. "Normative beliefs and modality styles: a latent class and latent variable model of travel behaviour," Transportation, Springer, vol. 45(3), pages 789-825, May.
    20. Kandt, Jens & Rode, Philipp & Hoffmann, Christian & Graff, Andreas & Smith, Duncan, 2015. "Gauging interventions for sustainable travel: A comparative study of travel attitudes in Berlin and London," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 80(C), pages 35-48.

    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:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:10:p:3686-:d:175624. 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: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.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.