Reducing car-use for leisure: Can organised walking groups switch from car travel to bus and train walks?

N.J. Davies*, R. Weston

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

25 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This paper deals with the significant leisure travel sector, focusing on the attitudes of organised walking groups towards public transport use. A series of interviews with walking group leaders explored the design of organised walks, and factors affecting journeys to and from start points. The themes presented suggest an overlying group culture involving mainly circular walks, reached by car. The research indicates an underlying engrained dependency on cars to reach walks and a degree of opposition to using public transport, which generally contradicts widely-held attitudes towards protecting the environment. Future research should focus more in depth on the long-term removal of psychological barriers to using public transport for leisure, and persuasive measures aimed at groups.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)23-29
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Transport Geography
Volume48
Early online date29 Aug 2015
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Oct 2015

Keywords

  • Behavioural change
  • Modal shift
  • Rural tourism
  • Leisure travel
  • Recreational walking

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geography, Planning and Development
  • General Environmental Science
  • Transportation

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