The Politics of Mobility

Transport issues are critically embedded in everyday life. For this very reason, ways of addressing such issues are almost always hugely politically contentious, as a quick glance at local and national media will testify. Such contentiousness is growing as ever increasing mobility for many in western society has led to a critical examination of the fundamental basis by which transport issues are considered in government and beyond. Despite the strength of this examination, the implementation of new approaches to dealing with transport issues has proved deeply problematic. The Politics of Mobility pioneers a methodological and theoretical framework derived from the social and political sciences to shed light on the complexities of dealing with these issues. It mobilises three case studies that highlight the realpolitik of dealing with such concerns for students, practitioners, researchers and activists. In pursuing new approaches to transport issues, this book highlights the new storylines being actively developed by activists, officials and others. It demonstrates how these challenge and coexist with the ideas, policies and proposals that linger on from previous eras. In this contested terrain there is an important geography to the implementation of new approaches, particularly in relation to demand management policies. While geographical variability is not in itself undesirable, political, financial and cultural difficulties have hampered the penetration of such approaches, which has serious implications for ecological and social conditions in these localities and beyond. The book concludes by presenting some constructive ways to overcome these problems structured around: defining and communicating clear strategic goals; facilitating learning processes; broadening transport policy communities and addressing their practices and culture; and cultivating links between policy communities. Through engaging with such issues, broader quality of life objectives and international environmental responsibilities might be better realised.