Human mobility in functional urban regions: understanding the diversity of mobilities

Abstract

This paper brings together three contrasting strands of conceptualization relating to human mobility in metropolitan regions. First, the well-established literature on functional urban regions which focuses above all on the role of journey to work in defining these, and on patterns of relative population centralization versus decentralization in urban regions. Other than in terms of defining metropolitan zones, this literature is mostly based on analyses of ‘permanent’ population flows. Therefore, the second theme of this paper is a focus more on fluidity, on the importance of various forms of temporary population movements which can either confirm or challenge the trajectories of centralization versus decentralization that are suggested by permanent population shifts. These themes are explored through an empirical analysis of Portsmouth, UK, a mature metropolitan area which has been subject to absolute population centralization in recent years. Finally, we explore how diverse mobilities are interwoven – a process that can be understood in terms of Urry's notions of scapes and flows, and also of enfolded mobilities.