The Effect of Public Traffic Accessibility on the Low-Carbon Awareness of Residents in Guangzhou: The Perspective of Travel Behavior

The demand for transportation among urban residents in China is increasing in tandem with the nation’s population growth, rising consumption levels, and increasing car ownership rates. Breaking the existing high-carbon travel practices and reshaping positive low-carbon awareness represents an inevitable way to change existing transportation structures and reduce urban traffic congestion and carbon emissions. A mediating effect model was employed and we found that community satisfaction is an essential variable in the effect of traffic accessibility and travel behavior on low-carbon awareness. First, the impact of residents’ zero and low-carbon actions on their low-carbon awareness is mediated by community satisfaction. Furthermore, compared to high-income groups, community satisfaction exerts a robust mediating influence on low-income groups. The mediating effect of community satisfaction on the relationship between residential proximity to commercial centers and low-carbon awareness among individuals with low incomes is evident. Based on these findings, this paper explores the heterogeneity and associated measures of low-carbon awareness among residents. The conclusion of this study provides suggestions to promote residents’ low-carbon awareness by improving their travel experience from the perspective of community construction, providing scientific reference and a basis for the formulation of transportation policies for low-carbon city construction.