Generation Y mobilities through the lens of energy cultures: a preliminary exploration of mobility cultures

Abstract

The generation Y mobility changes could present an opportunity to facilitate a transition towards a more sustainable mobility paradigm (Banister, 2008). This cohort recently overtook the Baby Boomer generation as the largest generation in the USA and Australia (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2011; Lachman and Brett, 2011), and their attitudes and behaviours towards mobility could play an influential role in reducing transport-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Furthermore, as young adults account for the majority of road accident fatalities (Peden et al., 2004), a rise in average driver age could result in a reduction of road traffic accidents, injuries and fatalities. From a geographical perspective, the evident variability in national, regional and local generation Y mobility practices suggests that the factors that are driving change are not universal an d thus warrant much closer investigation.