Defining the psycho-social determinants of public transport use: An integrated theoretical approach
Car use is engrained in our culture. Changing behaviour towards using more sustainable travel modes such as public transport is notoriously difficult, despite the increasing awareness of environmental problems caused by car use. Many models have attempted to explain what psychological constructs activate pro-environmental behaviour. Models often adopt either an altruistic approach to pro-environmental behaviour such as Ajzen’s theory of planned behaviour, or a pro-social approach using Schwartz’s norm-activation model, or Stern et al.’s value-belief-norm theory. This research tests the psychological constructs determining decisions to use public transport using an integrated environmental behaviour model recently proposed by Bamberg and Möser. The results support the integrated modelling approach. Intentions to use public transport are indirectly affected by awareness of environmental problems caused by car use mediated through social norms, guilt, perceived behavioural control and attitude. Intention to use public transport explains 56% of the variance in self-reported public transport behaviour. Theoretical and practical implications are discussed.