Understanding Car Use and Ownership among Individuals Aged 18-26 in Réunion Island

Abstract

La Réunion, a French overseas department, has experienced a significant rise in car use and ownership over the past 20 years. This has led to increasing levels of congestion, pollution, and the dominance of car-based infrastructure that does not align well with the island’s geography. This study investigates patterns of car use among individuals aged 18 to 26, a population at a formative stage of establishing long-term travel behaviours. Through semistructured interviews with both users and experts, the study examines this trend using five key variables: instrumental motives, affective and symbolic factors, environmental awareness, personal constraints, and spatial conditions. Using an abductive approach, the research also identifies additional factors that contribute to car dependency, such as professional obligations, inter- and intra-city travel needs, and poor communication around transport alternatives. The findings reveal the strong influence of instrumental motivations and spatial constraints in shaping car use and ownership. While social norms and socialisation process reinforce car use tendencies, participants exhibit limited emotional attachment or symbolic identification with the car. This opens a discussion on the nature of car dependency (perceived or actual) and the boundaries between the influence of personal habits, beliefs, and external constraints. The study also points to the role of tropical climate and the island geography in shaping mobility choices. Overall, it advocates for planning approaches that are more sensitive to local contexts, moving beyond Eurocentric models that may not apply well to island territories like La Réunion.