Introduction: Habitual travel choice

In this introduction to the special issue on habitual travel choice, we provide a brief account of the role of habit in travel behaviour, discuss more generally what habitual choice is, and briefly review the issues addressed in the solicited papers. These issues include how habitual travel behaviour should be measured, how to model the learning process that makes travel choice habitual, and how to break and replace car-use habits.     

A cross-country study of fairness and infringement on freedom as determinants of car owners' acceptance of road pricing

Jakobsson et al. (2000) found that in Sweden public acceptance of road pricing decreases if it is perceived to be unfair and to infringe on freedom. The present study reports a survey investigating whether the same effects are found in the Asian countries of Japan and Taiwan. The results indicate that fairness plays the same role. However, income had a direct effect on acceptance in Taiwan but not in Japan or Sweden.     

Effects of economic disincentives on private car use

A field experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of economic disincentives on private car use. Eighty two-adult households who were owners of at least one car were randomly assigned to three experimental groups and one control group. Both experimental and control groups logged their car trips during one week before, one week during, and one week after treatment. The treatment consisted of charging two of the experimental groups approximately 100% of normal cost per kilometer of driving during 2 weeks, and charging the third experimental group this amount per kilometer of driving during 4 weeks. With the purpose of investigating whether deliberate planning increases the effect of economic disincentives, the households in one of the former and in the latter group were asked to fill out a prospective car log for the following week. The control group was not charged or requested to fill out a prospective car log but was in other respects treated in the same way. Analyses of the car logs and odometer readings during and at the end of treatment showed a weak reduction of car use due to the economic disincentives that however were almost completely dependent on planning.     

Out-of-home activities,daily travel,and subjective well-being

It is argued that utility theory that underpins current cost-benefit analyses of daily travel needs to be complemented. An alternative theoretical framework is to this end proposed which applies subjective well-being (SWB) to travel behaviour analysis. It is posited in this theoretical framework that participation in goal-directed activities, facilitated or hindered by travel, contributes to SWB, that the degree of travel-related stress in participating in these activities reduces SWB, and that positive affect associated with travel in itself has an impact on SWB.     

你的满意 我的口碑——中国汽车品牌十佳口碑排行榜

关注汽车行业的人都很清楚，几乎与国际市场经验完全相悖的车型成败案例在中国汽车市场上可谓比比皆是。在那些享誉世界的经典车型中，高尔夫在中国水土不服几近毁灭，威姿、蒙迪欧、赛纳等受到市场冷遇。而仅代表了上世纪80年代技术水准的桑塔纳、捷达依然雄踞中国汽车市场销量的榜首，伊兰特、夏利也曾在2005、2006年问鼎国内单车销量冠军。显然，在中国汽车市场高速起步发展的这些年里，中国消费者对于汽车的价值判断与汽车企业们对市场趋势的预测之间，进行了一场史无前例的磨合游戏，而双方都在这个过程中付出了沉重的代价。     

The influence of personality on acceptability of sustainable transport policies

Previous research has shown that fairness, infringement on freedom, and perceived effectiveness are determinants of transport pricing acceptability. In the present study we investigate determinants of acceptability of environmental (carbon) taxation for which trust in government and environmental concern are additional determinants. Carbon taxation is an extension of fuel taxes and may thus be viewed as transport pricing. Our main focus is on the role played by personality traits. Structural equation modeling reveals that acceptability is related to the personality traits extraversion, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. Extraverted individuals have higher levels of trust in government which leads to higher acceptability. Also correlations between agreeableness and conscientiousness as well as environmental problem awareness and personal norm are observed. We discuss strategies for effective marketing of transportation policies considering how acceptability is related to personality traits.     

The role of anticipated time pressure in activity scheduling

In the present article we focus on the cost or disutility of engaging in activities arising from the time pressure people frequently experience when they have committed themselves to perform too many activities in a limited amount of time. Specifically, we propose that anticipated time pressure increases the likelihood of two types of planning, one short-term and the other long-term encompassing different strategies for eliminating or deferring activities. In addition, we discuss several behaviorally realistic such strategies. It is assumed that strategies differ depending on whether an activity satisfies physiological needs, is performed because of institutional requirements or social obligations, or is performed because of psychological or social motives. Strategies are also assumed to differ depending on the degree to which planning is feasible. Computer simulations of available activity data are presented to illustrate consequences of the different strategies on time pressure and activity agendas.     

当世界遭遇金融危机——金融风暴下中国汽车产业何去何从

近日来，百年不遇的金融海啸已经令大洋彼岸的“山姆大叔”狼狈不堪，我国经济在货币管制高墙的保护下还看似没有受到太大波及，旺盛的内需也令国民经济在面对这次全球性金融危机时显得底气十足。但是，全球性资本流通过剩还是将华尔街风暴刮到了我们身边，而处在人们经济生活风口浪尖的汽车产业，则成了金融海啸登陆的浅滩。据了解，由于AIG（美国国际集团）申请破产，今年6月刚刚上马的力帆汽车AIG合资项目遭遇了危机，第二笔注资款项和成立金融公司以及进军海外市场的脚步都已停滞。业内专家分析表示，虽然AIG前期认购力帆集团13．5％股份的9000万美元已经到账，但在美国政府接手处理AIG破产危机之后，力帆汽车希望借助AIG金融资历以及海外背景成立金融公司甚至进军海外的战略显然将要搁浅。     

Reintroducing attitude theory in travel behavior research: The validity of an interactive interview procedure to predict car use

A methodological challenge is to develop methods which satisfy the need in transport planning of accurately forecasting travel behavior. Drawing on a review of the current state of attitude theory, it is argued that successfully forecasting travel behavior relies on a distinction between planned, habitual, and impulsive travel. Empirical illustrations are provided in the form of stated-response data from two experiments investigating the validity of an interactive interview procedure to predict household car use for different types of trips, either before or after participants were required to reduce use.