Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 4.2
Mode-specific CO
2
emission factors for transport
kg/passenger km*
Carbon-intensive modes
Air
<500km
0.183
500-1000km
0.134
1000-1500km
0.130
1500-2000km
0.121
> 2000km
0.111
Car
0.121
(0.180v/km)
Less carbon-intensive modes
Rail
0.033
Coach
0.027
Carbon neutral modes
Cycle
0
Walk
0
* An average based on various sources (Can Europe,
2008; Eurostar, 2008; National Express, 2008; Peeters
et al, 2007)
Source
: Adapted from Dickinson et al, 2010a
a benefit, compared to car use, both in reduced carbon footprint and in sup-
porting local public transport networks, but overall the holiday's carbon
footprint remains high. Similarly a tourist might take an overnight train from
Paris to the Mediterranean and then hire a car. While the carbon footprint is
much reduced, were the train a substitute for a flight or car, the car hire and
tendency to cover greater distances by car at the destination (Dickinson and
Robbins, 2007) would reduce the overall carbon efficiency of such a trip. Such
strategies, while recognized as making a contribution to low-carbon travel,
represent only a partial approach to slow travel. It is therefore important for
slow travel to utilize low-carbon modes for both the travel to and around the
destination area.
Exploratory research (Dickinson et al, 2010b) indicates that some tourists
have a commitment to certain modes of transport. This was particularly
apparent for cycle and train travel, where tourists are often passionate about
the mode (Dallen, 2007; Holloway, 2006). These slow travellers are not nec-
essarily concerned about the climate change implications of their travel;
indeed, exploratory work showed some took long-haul flights on other occa-
sions, despite being committed to specific slow travel modes. For example,
Dickinson et al (2010b) describe a cyclist, with the smallest holiday carbon
footprint in the sample, who was sceptical about climate change and flew reg-
ularly for other trips. This type of travel has been described by Rhoden and
Lumsdon (2006) as 'transport as tourism'.
