Changing Mobilities
Monika Büscher author Greg Marsden author
Format:Hardback
Publisher:Taylor & Francis Ltd
Publishing:1st Nov '26
£155.00
This title is due to be published on 1st November, and will be despatched as soon as possible.
The hypermobility of the twenty-first century is fragile, arguably on the verge of momentous change. Public space is a particularly important locale of socio-technical innovation in mobile living. Based on studies of emerging mobility practices in and around public places, undertaken as part of experimental, interdisciplinary, collaborative design projects, the book addresses four dimensions of change:
- Mobilities in public spaces are ‘naturally’ changing. What are the key changes?
- Designers and policy-makers are intentionally changing mobility infrastructures, services, technologies and ‘behaviours’. How are aims, incentives, visions formulated, implemented, appropriated, and evaluated?
- What practices and processes drive innovation?
- How can mobilities research and mobile methods inform change better?
Büscher contends that as analysts and designers inspired by the mobilities turn move with the people, objects, and ideas involved, they not only produce knowledge about, but also experiential knowledge of the complex effects of changing (im)mobilities, which can support the ‘carefully radical and radically careful design’ that is needed to shape desirable mobility futures. The book argues that it is productive to ‘mobilize’ innovation. Not least because the sensitivities and practices of engaged mobilities research respond to, and help define, ‘homo mobilis’, an emerging, perhaps imperfectly, but newly sensitized and equipped descendant of homo faber to address challenges posed by the momentous changes in mobile living likely to be wrought as climate change takes hold.
This book is aimed at researchers, practitioners and citizens who want to bring about positive change for their communities. The book allows a deep dive in to the systemic problem of climate change, but also provides examples of how research can work with communities to both think and act differently.
Changing Mobilities is a game changing book in the best way possible. It shows us the realities we face in transportation's contribution to the climate crisis. It analyses the massive yet also day-to-day transformations that need to take place in how we live. And it offers up hopeful possibilities of how we might get there. Büscher and Marsden build on decades of experience in real-world analysis and experimentation, each bringing unique perspectives that are beautifully woven together here. Anyone interested in our collective future should read this book and consider how to start changing mobilities in your own local context. The task before us is sobering yet inspiring, practical yet full of imagination, terribly daunting yet perfectly do-able if only we collaborate and work together. The message they leave us with: We can think and act differently — bolstered by ideas such as buen vivir and the mobile undercommons — to overcome obstacles and move beyond our deadly over-reliance on automobility. - Dr. Mimi Sheller, Dean of The Global School, Worcester Polytechnic Institute, US
This is an amazing book. It perfectly outlines the issue of sustainable mobilities and the urgent need to include research currently excluded from the mainstream knowledge system, for change to happen. It addresses the topic both theoretically and empirically and pushes theoretical thinking forward—toward what could be possible. Very importantly, it still manages to hold onto hope for the future. - Malene Freudendal-Pedersen, Professor in Urban Planning, Department of Sustainability and Planning, Aalborg University, Denmark
A powerful and passionate argument for what buen vivir worldviews and their practices have to offer to our common future, and for the role that mobilities, divergent, dissenting, and shared, can play in its shaping. Evocative and clear sighted, wide-ranging and political, Changing Mobilities is transformative scholarship at its best.- Professor Carlos López Galviz, Chair in History and Social Futures, Lancaster University, UK
What a stunning read! Büscher & Marsden take a stand against climate change ignorance, fake news, and systematic disregard for facts, humanity, and justice. Two outstanding scholars show what the mobile risk society needs: science with a hot heart and a cool analytical mind - not ready to surrender! - Sven Kesselring, Professor in Sustainable Mobilities, Nuertingen - Geislingen University, Germany
ISBN: 9780415661928
Dimensions: unknown
Weight: 453g
264 pages