Guiding policymakers in reducing car ownership in suburban contexts

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School of Engineering | Master's thesis
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Date

2025-09-01

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Sustainable Urban Mobility Transitions

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Master's Programme in Urban Mobility

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en

Pages

92

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Abstract

This research explores the behavioural factors shaping car ownership in the context of Eindhoven, drawing on behavioural theories to offer new insights. While social-psychological theories have increasingly been applied in transport studies, few have approached car ownership taking into account a view integrating socio-demographics, physical infrastructure, policies and socio-psychological aspects. This thesis builds on a behaviour change perspective to better understand how interventions can be designed to reduce car ownership and encourage less reliance on private vehicles, using insights from Buurtschap te Veld—a suburban car-reduced neighbourhood in Eindhoven. The study applies the Capability, Opportunity, Motivation–Behaviour (COM-B) model and the Behaviour Change Wheel (BCW) to identify the conditions enabling change in car ownership behaviour, as well as the types of interventions that can support a gradual shift. A qualitative case study forms the empirical foundation, based on 10 semi-structured interviews with people living in Buurtschap te Veld and outside in other areas of Eindhoven. Atlas.ti was used to analyse and interpret the large volume of interview data, helping to identify which aspects of car ownership behaviour stood out as most influential. The findings show that car ownership is influenced by a web of interrelated factors: psychological barriers include limited knowledge and low confidence in using alternatives; physical and social factors involve the accessibility, reliability, and cost of other modes, along with the weight of social norms and expectations. Motivation is shaped by deeper values, mobility beliefs, and established routines. These results contribute to a more layered understanding of behaviour in car-reduced settings. They also offer practical input for policymakers by identifying the components to focus on and translating behavioural insights into tangible strategies. Ultimately, this research reinforces the need to go beyond infrastructure and address the psychological, social, and motivational aspects of mobility.

Description

Supervisor

Mladenovic, Milos

Thesis advisor

Lichtenberg, Josephus, Joannes, Norbertus

Keywords

car ownership, behaviour change, COM-B, BCW, car-reduced neighbourhood, urban mobility

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https://urn.fi/URN:NBN:fi:aalto-202510208288

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[dipl] Insinööritieteiden korkeakoulu / ENG