Preferences for policy measures to regulate urban vehicle access for climate change mitigation

Abstract

In cognisance of the urgent need to decarbonise the transport sector to limit its impact on climate change and to internalise other negative transport externalities, regulating vehicle access in urban areas is essential. However, urban areas often struggle to implement these regulations due to concerns relating to social acceptability, heterogeneity of citizen preferences, lack of information on preferred measure attributes, and other factors that can boost the acceptance of urban vehicle access regulations. This study explores the acceptability and willingness to support Urban Vehicle Access Regulations (UVAR) in Budapest, Hungary to reduce transportation emissions and promote sustainable urban mobility. Using a structured questionnaire, which includes a choice-based conjoint exercise, the study finds that 42% of respondents were willing to support a car-free policy measure. Results were analysed to elicit preferences for specific UVAR measure attributes, identify population subgroups, and assess factors influencing willingness to support UVAR implementation. Access fee and proportion of revenue earmarked for transport development were the most important attributes to respondents. The study also identified three distinct subgroups of respondents with differing preferences, which could be characterised based on access to passenger cars, age, and employment status. The findings suggest that for effective UVAR, access fees for non-compliant vehicles should be excluded from measure designs, and the attribute preference approach highlights the importance of considering the heterogeneity of residents’ preferences in UVAR measure planning.

Review of Urban Access Regulations from the Sustainability Viewpoint

“…It is imperative to promote the decoupling of private vehicles from social identity. Furthermore, enhancing the quality of public transportation, sidewalks, and bike lanes and introducing new transportation modes, such as shared mobility options, should be prioritized [103,104].…”

Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Railways: Systematic Review of Research Progress

“…International cooperation plays a crucial role in addressing climate change, as evidenced by the Paris Agreement, a global milestone aimed at limiting global warming well below 2 • C compared to pre-industrial levels. Individual efforts, governmental actions, and corporate commitments are also essential to tackle this challenge [3].…”