HUMAN FACTORS IN SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY CHOICES: THE ROLE OF PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS IN TRANSPORTATION MODES

Sustainable mobility is a central challenge for contemporary urban systems, as transportation choices significantly affect environmental sustainability, social equity, and individual well-being. While technological and infrastructural solutions have been widely studied, the role of human factors in shaping mobility behavior remains insufficiently integrated into transportation research. In particular, psychological determinants of travel choices and the social dimension of sustainable mobility are often addressed separately, limiting the development of comprehensive and user-centered mobility frameworks. This doctoral dissertation investigates the human factors underlying sustainable mobility choices by integrating psychological theory, behavioral modeling, and innovative methodological approaches. Drawing on established frameworks of pro-environmental behavior and technology acceptance, the research examines how values, beliefs, personal norms, habits, and technology perceptions influence the adoption of sustainable transportation modes and emerging mobility solutions such as Mobility as a Service (MaaS). In parallel, the dissertation addresses the underexplored social dimension of sustainable mobility by proposing both a conceptual and an operational framework for perceived social sustainability in urban transportation. The research is articulated across five empirical studies adopting a multi-method approach. Survey-based studies test revised versions of the Values–Beliefs–Norms theory and the Technology Acceptance Model to identify psychological drivers of sustainable mobility and MaaS adoption. An immersive virtual reality experiment is used to examine travel choices under realistic and hypothetical scenarios. Finally, a scoping review and a questionnaire development study define and operationalize key dimensions of perceived social sustainability, including equity, safety, inclusion, and quality of life. Overall, the findings highlight the central role of psychological factors in sustainable mobility decisions and emphasize the need to investigate subjective perceptions to promote environmentally effective and socially inclusive mobility systems.