Car Use: An Analysis of Motorists’ Transport Decision-Making

Abstract: The deep-seated role of private vehicles in our lifestyles limits the pursuit of sustainable urban development from an economic, social, and environmental standpoint. As such, this qualitative study aims to identify and explain the determinants behind the car phenomenon. Interviews are performed with non-low-income car owners in Milan and Stockholm commuting zones. The two areas depict different approaches to car use highlighting how determinants depend on the context in which they manifest. In particular, the study distinguishes between non-instrumental, e.g., attitudes, habits, and environmental awareness, and instrumental determinants, e.g., time, costs, accessibility, and public transport provision. The study concludes that instrumental determinants are affected by attitudes and habits that distort or downplay their evaluation. However, the cases of Milan and Stockholm suggest that planning and providing an efficient public transport system can reduce the magnitude of non-instrumental determinants. This leads to a more realistic recognition of car use consequences while highlighting the benefits of alternative transportation modes.