Driving to work: Why it’s psychologically difficult to switch to public transit or biking.
SlateCommuters are creatures of habit—until, suddenly, they aren’t. The behavioral science of commuting holds powerful lessons for policymakers, civic leaders, and environmentalists hoping to convince drivers to instead use modes like public transit and biking that can ease gridlock, improve air quality, and mitigate climate change. “Overall, we found a whole set of interventions—many of which are used regularly in corporate settings—that failed to shift people’s commuting behavior,” they wrote. Based on those findings, one could imagine climate-conscious public officials offering a “welcome package” of transit and bikeshare passes to those who have recently moved into a new home. I’ll look into that next month.’ Even the tiniest bit of effort required makes it something they’ll choose to do later.” During external disruptions, public campaigns promoting driving alternatives might convince such people to stop procrastinating.
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