Concannon, Tom (2022) Addressing Car Dependency in Galway, Ireland: A Time for Change? Master thesis.
|
Text
Thesis submission2!Final-2.pdf Download (4MB) | Preview |
Abstract
This research focuses on the concept of car dependency in the city of Galway, Ireland. Society’s view on car use is currently in transition as more and more people grow to understand the effects it has on the climate as well as social and economic issues such as congestion and damage to the public realm. Galway is a relatively small city which has been found to rely heavily on private cars for transportation. While other cities in Ireland and Europe have made drastic changes in order to create a more sustainable transport model, Galway is struggling to move away from its car centric infrastructure. This reluctance, as well as the city’s small scale, makes Galway an interesting case study for this topic. The research aimed to gain an understanding of which factors influence car use/dependency in Galway. Specifically it looked at how utility issues such as car parking availability, barriers to alternatives and journey distances influence car dependency while simultaneously looking at and comparing the effects environmental awareness has on car dependence. This was achieved with quantitative and qualitative research. An online survey gathered the opinions and transport habits of the general public (quantitative). Thereafter, multiple regression analyses were employed in order to measure direct and moderating effects of the utility issues and environmental awareness on car dependent behaviour. Key findings were then posed to the outgoing Mayor of Galway, in order to understand how they viewed the influence of each variable and moderator on car dependency. The interview also offered insight into how the political climate reacts to proposed change. Regarding the utility issues, the research concluded that distance and availability of parking to be significant predictors of car dependency in Galway. Meanwhile an awareness of sustainability issues also influenced the predictability of car dependence. The qualitative findings mirrored these results with the interviewee calling for a reduction in car parking spaces, increased public and active transport and awareness of issues pertaining to car dependence but not limited to sustainability concerns. This paper contributes to the knowledge pool surrounding car dependency and transport related sustainability issues in general but also specifically to the Irish context. The paper recommends a mixed methods approach to dealing with car dependence in Galway. Policy makers should inhibit car use by making driving less attractive (reducing car parking) while simultaneously promoting alternative modes and educating the public about the negative effects of choosing private cars as their main mode of transport. This might be achieved by reducing parking at central locations and places of work/education, building more densely with planned sustainable transport in mind and encouraging the public to rethink their transport habits in favour of the environment.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Master) |
|---|---|
| Degree programme: | Society, Sustainability and Planning (MSc Socio-spatial Planning) |
| Supervisor: | Rijnks, R.H. |
| Date Deposited: | 04 Nov 2022 12:17 |
| Last Modified: | 04 Nov 2022 12:17 |
| URI: | https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/4088 |
Actions (login required)
 |
View Item |