Enablers and barriers to shifting to sustainable mobility. Takeaways from a sustainability campaign in Flanders, Belgium

Despite Flanders’ high cycling rates and good public transportation coverage, car ownership has been rising steadily, conflicting with sustainability goals. Since cars are often the default transport mode, changing behaviour can be challenging, so understanding barriers and enablers to transition at the individual level is crucial. We use focus groups to identify obstacles to sustainable mobility experienced by participants in the “30 Days with Less Cars” campaign held in June 2022, which encouraged sustainable travel and a less car-dependent lifestyle. Our findings constitute insights into barriers and enablers for adopting more sustainable mobility behaviour among participants mindful of sustainable mobility. Key barriers included the lack of alternative transportation options, especially in non-urban areas and outside business hours, as well as public transport reliability issues and the comfort of private cars. Difficulties associated with car ownership (such as cost) and the availability of alternatives are significant enablers for sustainable mobility.