IN-PERSON Barcelona Livable Cities. Section A

Abstract

Although Barcelona is renowned for its sustainable mobility policies and compact urban structure, pollution levels in the area still exceed WHO limits, due to the high level of car use, particularly in the outer coronas. Local sustainable mobility initiatives often target the ‘average car user’, but this group is highly heterogeneous. Existing research has explored the negative effects of car use, the relationship between the built environment and modal choice, and symbolic value of cars, among other topics. However, more work is needed to better understand car users, their profiles, and their travel patterns, particularly in relation to the built environment. This study analyzes car use in the Barcelona Metropolitan Region, aiming to move beyond the ‘average user’ concept and delve into car users’ characteristics and travel patterns. Additionally, it seeks to contribute to the debate on accessibility levels in the built environment and travel behaviour. Using data from a 2021 travel survey, we perform a K-modes cluster analysis and cross-analyze the results with sociodemographic data and trip details. Our findings reveal 4 groups of car users: daily users dissatisfied with public transport, car lovers, occasional companions and frequent users with mixed modal share. Key segmentation variables include gender, education, job, residence and income. This paper highlights key socioeconomic, housing, and mobility factors influencing car use and offers actionable insights for developing targeted policies to reduce private vehicle use in one of Europe’s densest urban areas.