|
International Journal of Environment Science and Technology
Center for Environment and Energy Research and Studies (CEERS)
ISSN: 1735-1472 EISSN: 1735-1472
Vol. 11, No. 8, 2014, pp. 2217-2232
|
Bioline Code: st14214
Full paper language: English
Document type: Research Article
Document available free of charge
|
|
International Journal of Environment Science and Technology, Vol. 11, No. 8, 2014, pp. 2217-2232
en |
Identifying the underlying constructs linking urban form and travel behaviour using a grounded theory approach
Banerjee, U. & Hine, J.
Abstract
The role of urban form in influencing travel
behaviour has gained particular interest to scholars and
policy makers to achieve a broader goal of sustainability
despite varied scholastic opinion on the effectiveness of
this relationship. While transportation forms the nexus of
any urban environment, it also accounts for about thirty-six
per cent of the total energy consumption in the UK
[Department of Energy and Climate Change, UK, 2013].
Thus, an emphasis to reduce greenhouse emissions in this
sector remains a key policy objective to achieve sustainability.
Also there is an overemphasis of research in this
area on quantitative association between key variables as
opposed to qualitative exploration in order to understand
complex human behaviour. The study reported in this paper
has been designed to address this gap. Using a grounded
theory analysis, this paper reports findings from 6 focus
group discussions and 17 in-depth interviews. Fifty-three
participants were recruited from three case study areas
across Northern Ireland to represent the urban continuum.
Seven overarching categories have been identified
explaining the interrelationships between urban form and
travel behaviour in the Northern Ireland context. However,
at a macro-scale, land-use policies have played a dominant
role in shaping the travel patterns and this has translated in
the form of car dependency and residential immobility over
the years in Northern Ireland. Although current policy now
adopts a more integrated approach to curb urban sprawl
and achieve modal split, soft policy measures have proved
useful in increasing the effectiveness of these policy
interventions.
Keywords
Urban form; Travel behaviour; Sustainability; Grounded theory; Policy intervention
|
|
© Copyright 2014 - International Journal of Environment Science and Technology Alternative site location: http://www.ijest.org
|
|