Understanding adolescents’ intentions to commute by car or bicycle as adults

• A model for understanding adolescents’ mode choice intentions is developed.
• A survey among Danish adolescents’ mode choice intentions are related to the theory of planned behavior.
• Intentions are linked to experience, future vision and car restriction acceptance.
• Attitudes are linked to gender, location, travel patterns and parental influence.

This study focuses on the intentions of adolescents to commute by car or bicycle as adults. The behavioral model is based on intrapersonal and interpersonal constructs from the theory of planned behavior extended to include constructs from the institutional, community and policy domains. Data from a survey among Danish adolescents is analyzed. It is found that car use intentions are related to positive car passenger experience, general interest in cars, and car ownership norms, and are negatively related to willingness to accept car restrictions and perceived lack of behavioral control. Cycling intentions are related to positive cycling experience, willingness to accept car restrictions, negative attitudes towards cars, and bicycle-oriented future vision, and are negatively related to car ownership norms. Attitudinal constructs are related to individual characteristics, such as gender, residential location, current mode choice to daily activities, and parental travel patterns.