Changing Travel Habits with Incentives

Most of us are familiar with the lure of convenience. When deciding how to get to work, we don’t think twice about grabbing our keys and hopping in the car. It feels like a simple decision, because it’s so easy to overlook the impact this personal convenience has on our cities and our planet. We turn a blind eye to the fact that our convenience contributes to traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions that accelerate climate change. 

It’s not just our reliance on personal vehicles that has an environmental impact. Flights have become cheaper and more commonplace, and we’re quick to book without checking the box to contribute a small amount to offset the carbon impact. We may be quick to use a reusable water bottle, but as soon as something interferes with our personal convenience or finances, then it no longer feels like it’s our place to help. 

This is the big challenge: traditional approaches, like carbon offset programs or fare reductions for transit, are insufficient. Passengers often undervalue the long-term environmental impact of their choices, focusing instead on immediate convenience and cost. Carefully-designed incentives can reshape these entrenched travel habits, making sustainable transit options like buses, trains, and subways feel not only practical, but also appealing and rewarding.