Transitions of Mobilities in Rural Areas?

Abstract

project aims to contribute to the field of sustain mobility in rural areas. Where rural areas traditionally have been embossed by an individual car-based automobility, this project focus to investigate how the city of Lihme can transform into a more sustainable mobility future. By using the 'Motility' framework by (Kaufmann, Bergman, & Joye, 2004), and including the citizens from Lihme through a survey, it has enabled this project to research Lihme within the science of 'Mobilities Turn'. This science evolves mobility, as something more than just going from A to B compared to more conventional way of approach the science of mobility, that focuses more upon the physical structures.This project is designed in a both qualitative and quantitative research style, as it uses a survey as the main methodological approach, where the respondents were allowed to elaborate on their reasoning and mobil-ity behavior. Furthermore, the project is done using the hermeneutic philosophy of science, as the analysis is structured by the theoretical approach by analyzing through interpretations and understandings.The project shows, that there is a great usage of the car as a main mode of transportation for everyday commuting in Lihme. This is mainly caused by the culture, but also there are identified to many limitations for using other alternative mobilities, such as infrequent schedules and coverage for the existing public transport. However, there is a recognition from the citizens in Lihme, that there are other mobilities, that can improve the current mobility situation in Lihme.This project identifies four different 'Ideal Types', distinguished by their 'Potential to be Mobile' and 'Adap-tion Level'. These ideal types represent different groups of individuals and their factors for 'Mobility Coping Strategies'. Thus, these identified ideal types enable planners to select mobilities that fits into what is wanted by citizens living at the certain area. Furthermore, this identification shows, that when individuals are switching between life spaces, there are created 'Transition Stages' where individuals are more open and exposed to be transformed into more sustainable mobilities.The project concludes that it is possible to transform individual and car-based mobility into sustainable mo-bility if the citizens are being included. This means, that implementations of new mobilities need to be suit-able for the demands the citizens might have, as they themselves as citizens constitute the solution for transforming.