Public transport in Stavanger Metropolitan

Abstract

This thesis is looking into how inhabitants in the municipality of Stavanger can change their traveling habits. A change from using own vehicles to public transportation. The research question is as follows: Why are so many in Stavanger driving cars to commute instead of using public transportation? As transportation is a large source of emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs), it is important to lower private use of fossil fuel vehicles in cities. In the municipality of Stavanger, road traffic is considered as one of the main sources for GHG emissions.

In order to answer the research question this thesis use the multi-level perspective (MLP) as theoretical framework in order to explain the transition to lower GHG emissions from transportation. Wicked issues are also included as a theory in order to explain how we can manage a problem that is not easily solved, such as climate change is.The University of Stavanger (UiS) is used as a case study to answer the question about public transportation. And by using a questionnaire, finding drivers and barriers to why students choose the means of transportation that they do.Stavanger universitetssykehus (SUS) is moving to Ullandhaug, close to the Campus of UiS. This will bring new solutions to public transportation to the area. A consideration on how this will affect the way people commute has also been included in this thesis.

Time, price, practicality and accessibility were the main barriers to choose public transportation in the daily commute. What seemed to be a main driver for commuting by public transportation was no other choice.