Who are most likely to adapt their travel behaviour to changes in weather conditions? A study of weather tolerance and travel behaviour in Norway

Abstract

This study, based on two questionnaire surveys from two cities in Norway with different climate conditions, explores to which extent weather tolerance in terms of travel behaviour -here defined as using a non-motorized vehicle despite poor weather conditions (precipitation and/or cold weather) -is related to socio-demographic factors, environmental attitudes, transport habits as well as the climate conditions (coastal/inland) of where people live. Three indicators are used to measure 'weather tolerance': a) Disagreement to the statement "I always drive when it rains"; b) Willingness to walk 2-3 kilometers in minus 10 degrees Celsius or more in steady snowfall (yes/no), and c) Willingness to walk 2-3 kilometer in +20 degrees Celsius or more in steady rainfall" (yes/no). The study finds that environmental attitudes and travel habits (as perceived by the respondents) are the factors most strongly related to weather tolerance, independent on how it is measured, when other factors are controlled for. The findings suggest that policy measures to change attitudes/ increase environmental awareness as well as promoting outdoor activity in general can be effective in terms of making people choose active transportation even in poor weather conditions. This might be important steps to reduce the likelihood of car use in the future, when extreme weathers are to become more likely.

Factors related to the intention of choosing shared E-scooters for metro transfer: A survey study integrating weather perception into satisfaction evaluation from Changsha

“…In contrast, frequent strong winds in autumn negatively impact riding, with each unit increase in wind speed decreasing the likelihood of riding by 0.8% [ 44 , 45 ].Different groups have varying degrees of tolerance to weather, influenced by travel mode, purpose, environmental attitudes, and travel habits. This heterogeneity means that the impact of weather on travel behavior varies widely [ 46 ]. Understanding this variability is crucial for studying travel choices.…”

“…Understanding this variability is crucial for studying travel choices. However, as Nordbakke and Olsen point out, there is limited research on "weather tolerance" and its heterogeneous effects from the perspective of user diversity [ 9 , 46 ]. Investigating this can highlight the sensitivity to weather impacts and underscore the travel behavior tendencies of different groups, which is of significant importance [ 24 ].…”

Factors related to the intention of choosing shared E-scooters for metro transfer: A survey study integrating weather perception into satisfaction evaluation from Changsha

“…In contrast, frequent strong winds in autumn negatively impact riding, with each unit increase in wind speed decreasing the likelihood of riding by 0.8% [ 44 , 45 ].Different groups have varying degrees of tolerance to weather, influenced by travel mode, purpose, environmental attitudes, and travel habits. This heterogeneity means that the impact of weather on travel behavior varies widely [ 46 ]. Understanding this variability is crucial for studying travel choices.…”

“…Understanding this variability is crucial for studying travel choices. However, as Nordbakke and Olsen point out, there is limited research on "weather tolerance" and its heterogeneous effects from the perspective of user diversity [ 9 , 46 ]. Investigating this can highlight the sensitivity to weather impacts and underscore the travel behavior tendencies of different groups, which is of significant importance [ 24 ].…”

Cities Under Lockdown: Mobility and Access Inequalities Stemming from COVID-19 in Urban Colombia

“…Beyond debates on public transport and mobility behavior, significant concerns in the current agenda around urban transport in a COVID and post-COVID world are the rapid advance of climate change and changing risk of contagion. Such concerns have made evident the need to (i) modify mobility habits in cities (Bashir et al, 2020;Nordbakke and Olsen, 2019;van Wee et al, 2019), and (ii) to devise strategies for long-term transformations in the distribution of urban land and infrastructure (Carter, 2018). Most literature acknowledges the likelihood of a marginal modal shift to private motorized vehicles in the context of the pandemic (Gutiérrez et al, 2020;Muley et al, 2020).…”

COVID-19, activity and mobility patterns in Bogotá. Are we ready for a ‘15-minute city’?

“…In addition to this, the rapid advance of climate change and the risk of contagion creates the essential need to modify mobility habits in cities (Bashir et al, 2020;Nordbakke and Olsen, 2019;van Wee et al, 2019), as well as long-term transformations in the distribution of urban land (Carter, 2018). It is time to consider urban transport, in all its dimensions, as an issue of justice not only in urban areas.…”

Factors related to the intention of choosing shared E-scooters for metro transfer: A survey study integrating weather perception into satisfaction evaluation from Changsha

“…In contrast, frequent strong winds in autumn negatively impact riding, with each unit increase in wind speed decreasing the likelihood of riding by 0.8% [ 44 , 45 ].Different groups have varying degrees of tolerance to weather, influenced by travel mode, purpose, environmental attitudes, and travel habits. This heterogeneity means that the impact of weather on travel behavior varies widely [ 46 ]. Understanding this variability is crucial for studying travel choices.…”

“…Understanding this variability is crucial for studying travel choices. However, as Nordbakke and Olsen point out, there is limited research on "weather tolerance" and its heterogeneous effects from the perspective of user diversity [ 9 , 46 ]. Investigating this can highlight the sensitivity to weather impacts and underscore the travel behavior tendencies of different groups, which is of significant importance [ 24 ].…”

Cities Under Lockdown: Mobility and Access Inequalities Stemming from COVID-19 in Urban Colombia

“…Beyond debates on public transport and mobility behavior, significant concerns in the current agenda around urban transport in a COVID and post-COVID world are the rapid advance of climate change and changing risk of contagion. Such concerns have made evident the need to (i) modify mobility habits in cities (Bashir et al, 2020;Nordbakke and Olsen, 2019;van Wee et al, 2019), and (ii) to devise strategies for long-term transformations in the distribution of urban land and infrastructure (Carter, 2018). Most literature acknowledges the likelihood of a marginal modal shift to private motorized vehicles in the context of the pandemic (Gutiérrez et al, 2020;Muley et al, 2020).…”

COVID-19, activity and mobility patterns in Bogotá. Are we ready for a ‘15-minute city’?

“…In addition to this, the rapid advance of climate change and the risk of contagion creates the essential need to modify mobility habits in cities (Bashir et al, 2020;Nordbakke and Olsen, 2019;van Wee et al, 2019), as well as long-term transformations in the distribution of urban land (Carter, 2018). It is time to consider urban transport, in all its dimensions, as an issue of justice not only in urban areas.…”

Factors related to the intention of choosing shared E-scooters for metro transfer: A survey study integrating weather perception into satisfaction evaluation from Changsha

“…In contrast, frequent strong winds in autumn negatively impact riding, with each unit increase in wind speed decreasing the likelihood of riding by 0.8% [ 44 , 45 ].Different groups have varying degrees of tolerance to weather, influenced by travel mode, purpose, environmental attitudes, and travel habits. This heterogeneity means that the impact of weather on travel behavior varies widely [ 46 ]. Understanding this variability is crucial for studying travel choices.…”

“…Understanding this variability is crucial for studying travel choices. However, as Nordbakke and Olsen point out, there is limited research on "weather tolerance" and its heterogeneous effects from the perspective of user diversity [ 9 , 46 ]. Investigating this can highlight the sensitivity to weather impacts and underscore the travel behavior tendencies of different groups, which is of significant importance [ 24 ].…”

Cities Under Lockdown: Mobility and Access Inequalities Stemming from COVID-19 in Urban Colombia

“…Beyond debates on public transport and mobility behavior, significant concerns in the current agenda around urban transport in a COVID and post-COVID world are the rapid advance of climate change and changing risk of contagion. Such concerns have made evident the need to (i) modify mobility habits in cities (Bashir et al, 2020;Nordbakke and Olsen, 2019;van Wee et al, 2019), and (ii) to devise strategies for long-term transformations in the distribution of urban land and infrastructure (Carter, 2018). Most literature acknowledges the likelihood of a marginal modal shift to private motorized vehicles in the context of the pandemic (Gutiérrez et al, 2020;Muley et al, 2020).…”

COVID-19, activity and mobility patterns in Bogotá. Are we ready for a ‘15-minute city’?

“…In addition to this, the rapid advance of climate change and the risk of contagion creates the essential need to modify mobility habits in cities (Bashir et al, 2020;Nordbakke and Olsen, 2019;van Wee et al, 2019), as well as long-term transformations in the distribution of urban land (Carter, 2018). It is time to consider urban transport, in all its dimensions, as an issue of justice not only in urban areas.…”