Is Reducing Car Use a Utopian Vision?

Most urban environments appear to marginalise alternative forms of transport e.g. walking or cycling. New planning strategies are required to promote a reduction in car use and 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 upon car usage 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 amongst participants to reduce car use.