Mobility, Accessibility, and Social Participation

The possibility of participating in out-of-home activities (= participation) is of central importance for the social, economic, and cultural functioning of societies, as became particularly evident during the lockdowns of the COVID-19 crisis. Virtual activities in work, education, consumption, leisure, family life, and other sectors can only partially substitute for physical co-presence. Social participation is therefore inherently linked to mobility and to spatial-temporal accessibility. Conversely, restrictions in accessibility and mobility can lead to social exclusion and, as a consequence, to a reduced quality of life. The investigation of these interrelations has, for about two decades, grown into a broad field of research in transport and spatial studies, closely connected to the principles of equality and justice in access to activities. In planning practice, the safeguarding of the spatial dimensions of social participation has long been pursued through various guiding concepts, principles, and instruments (e.g., provision of public services, the principle of equivalent living conditions, the central-place concept, ABC planning [Netherlands], accessibility planning [UK]).

The working group adopts a multi-perspective view on the interconnections of mobility and accessibility with the many dimensions of social participation. Rather than applying a unidirectional causal model, it understands these concepts as mutually interrelated. To this end, it considers the spatial, temporal, and social aspects of mobility and accessibility.

Key Areas of Work

- Inventory of existing approaches; review of earlier and related concepts
- Identification of the added value of addressing mobility and social participation from a spatial science perspective
- Analysis of changes and interactions between individual accessibility and personal barriers in the context of justice
- Examination of relationships between objective and subjective accessibility in relation to social participation
- Mobility and participation in times of COVID-19: 

• Changed (and often enforced) behaviors and their implications for the transition in transport
• Health risks from compulsory mobility (especially in public transport) for occupational groups dependent on physical mobility and co-presence
• Potential aggravation of social inequalities in mobility
• Unequal access to digital opportunities (remote work, online schooling, COVID-19 apps)

Publikationen

• ARL - Akademie für Raumentwicklung in der Leibniz-Gemeinschaft (Hrsg.) (2023): Mobilität, Erreichbarkeit und soziale Teilhabe - Für eine gerechte Raum- und Verkehrsentwicklung. Hannover. = Positionspapier aus der ARL 144.
• Dangschat, J. S. (2022): Verkehrswende – sozial und räumlich ausgewogen. In: Journal für Mobilität und Verkehr (14), 2-10.
• Hölzel, D. J.; Scheiner, J. (2022): Mobilität und Segregation in Raum und Zeit: Implikationen für soziale Teilhabe und aktuelle Forschungsfragen. In: Journal für Mobilität und Verkehr (14), 11-17.
• Mark, L.; Busch-Geertsema, A.; LeBris, J.; Matthes, G.; Stark, K. (2023): Ist das gerecht? Eine Bewertungshilfe für lokale Mobilitätsmaßnahmen. In: Internationales Verkehrswesen 75(4), 28-31.
• Mattioli, G.; Büchs, M.; Scheiner, J. (2023): Who flies but never drives? Highlighting diversity among high emitters for passenger transport in England. In: Energy Research & Social Science 99.
• Rozynek, C.; Hölzel, D. J. (2022): Mobilität als Voraussetzung für Begegnungen. Ein Beitrag zum Thema soziale Teilhabe. In: Nachrichten der ARL 52 (02-03), 80-82.
• Rozynek, C.; Lanzendorf, M. (2023): How does low income affect older people’s travel practices? Findings of a qualitative case study on the links between financial poverty, mobility and social participation. In: Travel Behaviour and Society (30), 312-324.
• Rozynek, C.; Mattioli, G.; Aberle, C. (2023): Was darf die ÖPNV-Nutzung im Kontext sozialer Teilhabe kosten? Ideen für Indikatoren der ÖPNV-Erschwinglichkeit. Frankfurt am Main. = Arbeitspapiere zur Mobilitätsforschung Nr. 35. 

Events

• Hille, C.; Rozynek, C. (2023): Finanzielle Armut, Mobilität und soziale Teilhabe. Fachsitzung beim 62. Deutschen Kongress für Geographie, Frankfurt am Main, 21.9.2023.
• Scheiner, J. (2023): Zwischen Erreichbarkeitsexplosion und Mobilitätsarmut – Gedanken zu Mobilität, Erreichbarkeit und Teilhabe. Keynote Vortrag, 12. Deutsche Konferenz für Mobilitätsmanagement, Düsseldorf, 20.bis 21. November 2023.
• ARL-Kongress in Leipzig, Juni 2023.

Evaluation Tool for Local Mobility Measures

This evaluation tool, developed as part of the working group, is described in detail in the article “Ist das gerecht? Eine Bewertungshilfe für lokale Mobilitätsmaßnahmen” in Internationalen Verkehrswesen (Ausgabe 4/2022). It can be downloaded here and further developed: DOWNLOAD

Authors: Laura Mark, Annika Busch-Geertsema, Jessica LeBris, Gesa Matthes, Kerstin Stark