Is reducing car use a utopian vision?

Most urban environments appear to marginalise alternative forms of transport e.g. walking, cycling. New planning strategies are required to promote a reduction in car use and an increase in low carbon travel. This paper aims to inform sustainable transport planning strategies examining the effect urban demographics might have towards car usage. Research involved questionnaire surveys distributed to a sample population in Birmingham, UK. Results suggested that individuals indicated a strong dependency on the car despite two thirds recognising the contribution of car use to climate change. Data indicated car use was linked to age and there was a willingness of participants to reduce car use.