What affects our urban travel behavior? A GPS-based evaluation of internal and external determinants of sustainable mobility in Stuttgart (Germany)

- Multi-method analysis of psychological and environmental-external factors.
- GPS-based measurement of individual urban mobility behavior.
- Significant effects of intrinsic and external determinants on mobility behavior.

Motorized individual transport affects our urban lives negatively regarding its environmental, social and economic aspects. To resolve mobility-related issues significantly and in the long term, all of the relevant influences on individual mobility behaviors in an urban environment must be detected. The aim of this paper is therefore to analyze psychological and environmental-external factors hypothesized to influence sustainable mobility intentions, as well as their consequent behaviors. On the theoretical basis of an extended version of the 'theory of planned behavior' (Ajzen, 1991), a multi-methods approach, using person-based GPS tracking, questioning and an interactive online evaluation (prompted recall survey) are applied (N = 73). Sixty percent of the variance of sustainable mobility behavior could be explained by our structural equation model. The results of our analysis confirmed significant effects of both intrinsic and external determinants. Municipalities, operators of public transport systems and even citizens themselves must pay particular attention to external costs, the habitual usage of sustainable modes of transportation and the difficulties perceived to be associated with sustainable mobility to support it thoroughly.