Assessing how private beliefs conflict with public action on Safe Systems [R38]

Having surveyed 1,000 residents of North Carolina about their transportation values and travel mode aspirations, among other factors, the research team discovered that participants most favored having self-direction in travel, being comfortable, and avoiding injury while traveling. They valued avoiding being stuck in traffic or reducing their environmental footprint less. Participants aspired to drive cars in the future, and most sought to walk more. Fewer aspired to use transit, ride bicycles, or ride motorcycles in the future. Participants were not always accurate with their assessment of others’ values and travel mode aspirations, and this pluralistic ignorance around others’ values and aspirations varied according to the latent class participants aligned with: (1) Convenience Enthusiasts—unemployed or retired older middle-aged and politically disengaged adults who were satisfied with their primary travel mode of driving; (2) Injury Emphasizers—young, employed, modally dissatisfied, and politically engaged pedestrians and transit users; and (3) Aspiring Multimodalists—younger middle- aged, current and aspiring multimodalists who were satisfied with their usual travel mode, and both politically and socially engaged with transportation issues. Convenience Enthusiasts overestimated others’ values around avoiding being stuck in traffic, as well as others’ biking and transit use aspirations. Aspiring Multimodalists underestimated the degree to which others aspired to bike. In the last stage of this study, we carried out a phronetic analysis of North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) artifacts, including their stated mission, vision, goals, and values; statewide transportation investments law; and the agency’s Safety and Mobility Unit introductory webpage. We find that NC General Assembly and NCDOT priorities and policies appear to be organized around affording travelers swift, less-delayed travel, rather than provisioning viable and safe mobility choices. We end the report with conclusions and practical implications toward addressing pluralistic ignorance about what others most want and need from their transportation system and aligning transportation investments with communities' expressed values and aspirations.本研究团队对北卡罗来纳州1000名居民开展了关于其交通价值观、出行方式意愿及其他相关因素的调研，结果显示受访者最青睐的出行要素为出行自主、旅途舒适以及出行过程中避免受伤；而对于避开拥堵或降低环境影响这两项要素，受访者的重视程度相对较低。受访者均表达了未来驾驶私家车的出行意愿，其中多数希望增加步行出行频次，选择未来使用公共交通、骑行自行车或摩托车的受访者占比相对较少。 受访者对他人的交通价值观与出行方式意愿的评估往往存在偏差，且这种围绕他人价值观与意愿的多元无知（pluralistic ignorance）现象，会因受访者所属的潜在类别不同而有所差异： 1. 出行便捷热衷者：失业或退休的中老年群体，政治参与度较低，且对自身主要的私家车出行方式感到满意； 2. 出行安全重视者：年轻在职群体，对当前出行方式不满，政治参与度较高，以步行和公共交通使用者为主； 3. 多模式出行向往者：中青年群体，当前及未来均倾向于采用多模式出行，对日常出行方式感到满意，且在交通议题上兼具政治与社会参与度。 其中，出行便捷热衷者高估了他人对避开拥堵的重视程度，同时也高估了他人选择骑行自行车与使用公共交通的出行意愿；多模式出行向往者则低估了他人选择骑行自行车的出行意愿。 在本研究的最后阶段，我们对北卡罗来纳州交通运输部（North Carolina Department of Transportation, NCDOT）的相关官方文件开展了实践智慧分析，涵盖其公开的使命、愿景、目标与价值观，全州交通投资法案，以及该部门安全与出行单元的介绍网页。研究发现，北卡罗来纳州议会与NCDOT的优先事项与政策，似乎围绕为出行者提供更快捷、更少延误的出行服务展开，而非提供可行且安全的多样化出行选择。 本报告最终落脚于相关结论与实践启示，旨在解决公众对他人交通需求与意愿的多元无知问题，并推动交通投资与社区所表达的交通价值观及出行意愿相契合。