Abstract
This paper explores how local mobility interventions can bring about changes in daily mobilities and presents a qualitative study of an intervention introducing electric bikes (e-bikes) to suburban commuters in Norway. Our research shows promising evidence that e-bikes could play a crucial role in achieving a sustainable transport transition and that interventions are essential to stimulate the upscaling and mainstreaming of this emerging low-energy transport mode. In order to understand the scheme’s capacity to change mobility outcomes, this paper considers (i) how this low-energy mobility intervention was conceived and undertaken by its initiators, as well as how it was experienced by its participants; and (ii) how new e-bike practices are intertwined with existing daily activities and mobility systems. Theoretically, this paper draws on the staging mobilities framework and conceptualizes situational mobilities as involving the dimensions of embodiment, social interaction, and materiality. With this twofold objective, this paper generates crucial knowledge that is required to understand the capacity of mobility interventions to trigger a sustainable transport transition. This study explores the potential of combining mobile methods (GPS-tracking), qualitative GIS, and visual methods (photo- and map-elicitation) in interviews, and participant observations.
Highlights
Mobility challenges are not confined to urban cores, as suburbs are often associated with car usage and are seen as a hindrance to sustainable development
This paper presents a qualitative study on how a local mobility intervention introducing e-bikes to suburban commuters in Bærum, Norway can trigger changes in daily mobility practices
The objectives were to understand (i) how this low-energy mobility intervention was conceived by its initiators and performed and experienced by its participants, and (ii) how newly formed e-bike practices interweave with existing daily activities and mobility systems
Summary
Mobility challenges are not confined to urban cores, as suburbs are often associated with car usage and are seen as a hindrance to sustainable development. This requires a perspective on mobility that goes beyond the hegemonic econometric conceptualization of movement as a derived demand, i.e., a perspective that captures the situationality, embodied performativity, and relationality of mobility interwoven with other daily practices [18,20] To address these knowledge needs, this paper discusses how mobility interventions can trigger systemic changes in suburban daily mobilities by examining an empirical case study of an e-bike intervention introducing e-bikes to suburban commuters in Bærum, Norway. (2) To explore how new e-bike practices may be interwoven with existing daily activities and mobility systems To address these objectives, this paper theoretically draws on the staging mobilities framework and conceptualizes situational mobilities as embodied performance in the interplay with the materialities of travel environments and social interactions, staged from above by structures and policy interventions and from below by individuals [21]. This paper ends with a conclusion and discussion, including policy and design implications that may contribute to the implementation of a more sustainable mobility system
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