Green Metropolis, A psychologis't guide to city cycling

Abstract

Cycling to work among employees at Amsterdam Science Park was successfully increased with the help of a cycling competition making use of the smartphone application “Strava”. The addition of a self-persuasion task to the cycling competition did not increase the number of kilometers cycled to work. TAKE-AWAYS 1) A short-term increase in bicycle commutes can be created with a cycling competition. 2) Self-persuasion might not work when used in the form of an email intervention. 3) Social aspects such as networking should be encouraged. 4) The target group’s current level of motivation should be evaluated first. Self-persuasion might not work with highly motivated groups. THE INTERVENTION