3 Months without the car in Bielefeld, Germany– a mixed-method study exploring individual motivation to participate in a municipal intervention

Abstract

Background

Climate change is a major public health issue worldwide. To achieve climate targets and reduce morbidity, a paradigm shift in individual behavior e.g., in mobility, is needed. Municipal interventions can motivate individuals to engage in climate-friendly behavior through different psychological mechanisms. In order for successful interventions, it is necessary to gain better insight from study participants and their reasons for participating in mobility projects (e.g., motivational aspects).

Materials and methods

A mixed-methods design was used to evaluate reasons and characteristics of people for participating in an municipal mobility intervention. The quantitative sub-study assesses socioeconomic characteristics, environmental awareness and perceived stress. The qualitative sub-study explores motivation for participation and change, perspectives on car replacement and reasons for car use.

Results

Results show that participants ( n = 42) are rather high educated and show medium environmental awareness. Participants of the qualitative study part ( n = 15) were motiviated to reduce car use already before the intervention and used the intervention as starting point or trial phase.

Conclusions

Urban intervention projects with fitted recruitment strategies and better insights from study participants with the aim to motivate individuals to engage in climate-friendly behavior can help to strengthen sustainability and public health.

Supplementary Information

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-024-18266-7.