Luxembourg Institute of Socio-Economic Research (LISER)
Maison des Sciences Humaines
11, Porte des Sciences
L-4366 Esch-sur-Alzette / Belval
Salle de conférence (1st floor)
seminars@liser.lu
Abstract
The way we move within our communities and cities is rapidly changing due to the rise of new, digitally driven and disruptive mobility options, such as on-demand services (e.g. ride sharing and hailing services such as Uber and Lyft), micro e-mobility (e.g. shared electric bicycles or scooters), and even automated vehicles. In addition, access to traditional modes of transportation such as public transport and taxi services are also becoming increasingly digitalized through, for example, digital ticketing and scheduling. New forms of mobility and new mobility products are not equally accessible, are adopted differently across population segments, and often exclude certain populations. In this seminar we will explore how these variations result from differences in spatial access to transportation modes and services, varying levels of knowledge and ability, and factors related to affordability, safety, age, and social inclusion. Findings from three ongoing projects will be presented. The first is an assessment of Transport Adequacy in two cities in the Netherlands. A discussion of approaches to measuring Transport Adequacy will be presented and socio-spatial differences explained. A Transport Adequacy scale will also be presented as a meaningful indicator of the extent to which available travel resources meet one’s needs. The second study explores how individuals on three continents (The Netherlands; Greater Montreal, Canada; and in Sydney, Australia) view the advantages and disadvantages of AVs for themselves personally, as well as for society as a whole. At the individual level, the results suggest that there are four primary population segments of potential AV users across the three regions; at the regional level, we find that the Australian respondents have more reservations about the future of AVs in general, the Dutch respondents are especially optimistic and inclined towards using shared, rather than private AVs, and the Canadian respondents are optimistic about the improved safety for all road users, including animals. The thirst study assesses public transport users’ travel behaviour changes throughout the COVID-19 pandemic in Vancouver, Canada. We find that individuals react differently to crowding, and that there is a relationship between how people travel during crowded times and the level of flexibility of their working hours. Overall, by understanding the specific concerns, needs and desires of distinct user groups of different modes, it becomes possible to develop effective policy to monitor autonomous developments and mobility interventions while focusing on the inclusivity and equal access of existing and new mobility systems in future mobility landscapes.
Biography
Dea van Lierop is an Assistant Professor in Human Geography and Spatial Planning at Utrecht University. She completed her PhD at McGill University in Canada in Urban Planning where she focused on travel satisfaction in public transit, and conducted research on various aspects of sustainable transportation. Dea has worked in academic, private, and public sector settings on topics such as travel satisfaction, bicycle theft prevention, cycling education for children, Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) planning, transit service planning, paratransit and universal accessibility. She is interested in understanding how planners and policy makers can improve the transportation experiences of all transit users, cyclists, and pedestrians, regardless of their age, income or mobility needs.
