@unpublished{theses_frw4088,
            year = {2022},
           title = {Addressing Car Dependency in Galway, Ireland:  A Time for Change?},
          author = {Tom Concannon},
        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.},
             url = {https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/4088/}
}