Abstract for presentation (Poster or Podium) with a Paper in the Conference Proceedings
Sustainable Transportation & Urban Development
Suhail Asghar, n/a
PhD Student
Pennsylvania State University - Harrisburg
Middletown, Pennsylvania, United States
Suhail Asghar, n/a
PhD Student
Pennsylvania State University - Harrisburg
Middletown, Pennsylvania, United States
B Raghuram Kadali, n/a
Assistant Professor of Civil Engineering
National Institute of Technology, Warangal
Warangal, Telangana, India
Nikhil Menon, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Penn State Harrisburg
Middletown, Pennsylvania, United States
Suhail Mid-Colonial District
The Penn State University
Middletown, Pennsylvania, United States
Existing research has yielded abundant insights into travel behavior, with a primary focus on attitudes toward transportation modes in urban settings. However, regions characterized by hilly terrains have received notably less attention. This disparity has created a distinctive gap in our knowledge, restricting our understanding of travel behavior in such unique geographical contexts. To address this research gap, the present study delves into the intricacies of travel behavior within hilly region.
The study involved a structured questionnaire survey conducted in selected areas of Jammu and Kashmir, India. Employing a simple random sampling method, the survey gathered responses from 520 participants aged 18 and above. Among these, 462 valid responses were considered for subsequent analysis.
Utilizing Structured Equation Modeling (SEM), this study aimed to unveil the subtle interplay among various travel-related attitudes, including pro car travel, active travel and public transit attitudes as well as disliking active travel and motorbike. The study explored the influence of anxiety and social norms on travel behavior. These factors were extracted from a questionnaire developed using the theory of planned behavior. Five travel-related attitudes served as both exogenous variables and mediators to enhance our understanding of travel behavior in hilly regions.
The study's findings reveal that anxiety experienced in hilly regions has a notably greater impact on attitudes of individual who prefer sustainable modes of transportation. The unique challenges and anxiety associated with travel in hilly terrain can affect public attitudes toward various transportation modes, particularly those regarded as more environmentally sustainable.
These findings are particularly enlightening as they not only advance our understanding of the nuanced influences on travel behavior in hilly regions but also lay the foundation for future research in this field. The knowledge gained can further inform the development of policies and transportation systems that consider the anxieties and attitudes of individuals living in hilly terrains, thereby promoting sustainable practices in these regions.