Development of Green-Community Voucher and Synergy Effect with Mobility Management - Possibility of Low-Carbon Community Development and Regional Revitalization -

This study attempts to evaluate the effectiveness of a mobility management (MM) measure utilizing a circulation system of “Green-community voucher” (i.e. a community currency) on encouraging the citizen to shift to public transport. Green-community voucher circulation system collects the funds for developing a solar power plant, and provides discount service for the customers in local shop. The system is expected to contribute both of the revitalization of local stores and the reduction of GHG emission in the region. At the same time, an MM measure has been conducted to make the customers to change their car-use behavior to local stores. About 130 vouchers were sold for the first three months, and about 30% of sold vouchers were consumed. As a revitalization effect of the MM measure, one-third participants highly intended to switch the daily shopping destination from large shopping complexes to local stores. In terms of the impacts on travel behavior, it promoted to switch from private car to bike/walk for shopping. Furthermore, the MM combining with Greencommunity voucher system induced a synergistic effect of CO2 emission-reduction. These results show the MM measure could realize a well-balanced region between low-carbon and revitalization.