Forging new habits: how to make sustainable transport our new normal

Our towns and cities may be becoming friendlier to cyclists and pedestrians, but many of us still choose to take the car over the bus, the bicycle or our own two feet. Why? Because this is what we’ve always done, argues Janet Veldstra, behavioural psychologist and Assistant Professor of Psychology at the University of Groningen, Netherlands. “Our behaviour when we travel is based on habit,” she explains. “We stick to the patterns we know, without even reflecting on our choices.”

Nevertheless, with the climate crisis requiring us to change the way we live our lives, it’s important to question some of our behaviours – such as our choice of transport. Moving out of our comfort zone is difficult, but it can be done!

Changing behaviour

“Creating awareness about sustainable transport is an important first step, but it is not enough,” says Janet. “People need to feel that a change they make, like the switch from driving to cycling, really helps fight the climate crisis.”

This can be done by showing people how their actions lead to fewer emissions being generated, and transport is not the only area where this applies. From cutting meat out of our diet to turning down the heating a degree, we should be able to demonstrate how each action for the climate reduces greenhouse gas emissions. This way, we can empower people and convince them that their choices really matter.

However it’s not just about citing numbers and percentages – as humans, we also want to see how our action makes a tangible difference in the world. “People might be tempted to change if we can show them the effect of their behaviour. For example, showing how reducing their use of cars will provide space for nature by converting roads and car parks to green areas and playgrounds. And having more green areas will, in turn, help us cope better with heatwaves and heavy rain. It’s crazy how much space we’ve given up for cars,” Janet stresses.

Breaking down barriers

One barrier to adopting new transport habits lies in the false perception of the cost of sustainable mobility. “People often think that public transport is expensive, but they don’t realise what the total cost of using their car is,” she says. Fuel, parking, maintenance, insurance, tax and more – all of this can quickly outweigh the cost of public transport tickets. Raising awareness of the total cost of various transport options – including the hidden or less obvious costs of driving – might help shift the mindset.

Many of us also feel unable to invest time in sustainable alternatives. “People might think that the effort required to change is too great. Bus timetables can take time to understand, the train station is far from home so you have to walk there. All these factors – what we call ‘cognitive costs’ – put people off change,” she explains. To overcome this, Janet suggests that we could use hacks: frame the perceived drawbacks as  positives in disguise. For example, walking to and from the station is a time-efficient way to factor exercise into your routine! Changing behaviour might require more time now, but it will provide benefits for both ourselves and the climate in the long run.

Pledging to make a difference

Change can also be driven by establishing a community feeling. “People need to experience a feeling of ‘yes, we can do this together’,” Janet says. To make the biggest impact when fighting climate change, we need to be united. If everyone makes a small change to their routine, the overall effect will be a radical reduction in the emissions we generate.

So you’re not alone in this. To build a climate-neutral Europe by 2050, you can join your friends, family, neighbours, colleagues and other like-minded people in a Europe-wide movement by making a pledge as part of the European Climate Pact!

What can you pledge to do? For starters, you can consider walking or cycling more, flying less, or investing in an electric car. You could also speak to your local politicians about improving sustainable mobility choices in your area. By making a pledge, not only will you be helping build a more sustainable Europe, but you’ll also see the tangible impact of your actions in terms of the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions.

Whatever you choose to do, remember that our reliance on cars is all in the mind – the truth is that sustainable transport is inexpensive, convenient and environmentally-friendly!