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Torsten Hägerstrand’s time-geography as the cradle of the activity approach in transport geography

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  • Ellegård, Kajsa
  • Svedin, Uno

Abstract

The aim of this article is to put Torsten Hägerstrand’s contribution to the development of the activity approach in transport geography into the context of his development of time-geography as an integrative ecological world view. This is discussed from a biographical perspective where experiences in his everyday life and scientific investigations are linked into a theoretical whole. The theoretical approach of Hägerstrand can be traced to experiences several years before he presented his time-geographic approach. He studied conditions for individuals’ existence in different geographic, social, and ecological contexts by engaging new methods and cross-fertilizing research fields; he developed precise concepts and a notation system general enough to describe any kind of individual and applicable at different levels of aggregation. He combined theoretical and methodological developments in science with active involvement in the Swedish planning model in various sectors, not least urban and transport planning – at the same time as he criticized the fragmentation of society into separate sectors for policy and planning purposes. The article shows that Hägerstrand’s early sources of inspiration were in his struggle to develop both a precise and general time-geographic approach. The activity approach in transport research is ingrained in time-geography since the extension of and distance between locations of resources make transport inevitable. Hence, the human needs of transport are generated from activities in people’s everyday lives. Hägerstrand’s activity approach was developed in an era when transport prognoses based on the development of demand for transportation as such prevailed. Today, the activity approach is a dominant strand in transportation research.

Suggested Citation

  • Ellegård, Kajsa & Svedin, Uno, 2012. "Torsten Hägerstrand’s time-geography as the cradle of the activity approach in transport geography," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 23(C), pages 17-25.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jotrge:v:23:y:2012:i:c:p:17-25
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2012.03.023
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    1. Johan Rockström & Will Steffen & Kevin Noone & Åsa Persson & F. Stuart Chapin & Eric F. Lambin & Timothy M. Lenton & Marten Scheffer & Carl Folke & Hans Joachim Schellnhuber & Björn Nykvist & Cynthia , 2009. "A safe operating space for humanity," Nature, Nature, vol. 461(7263), pages 472-475, September.
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    1. Hernandez, Diego & Rossel, Cecilia, 2015. "Inequality and access to social services in Latin America: space–time constraints of child health checkups and prenatal care in Montevideo," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 44(C), pages 24-32.
    2. Pařil Vilém & Viturka Milan, 2020. "Assessment of Priorities of Construction of High-Speed Rail in the Czech Republic in Terms of Impacts on Internal and External Integration," Review of Economic Perspectives, Sciendo, vol. 20(2), pages 217-241, June.
    3. Jessica Berg & Jonas Ihlström, 2019. "The Importance of Public Transport for Mobility and Everyday Activities among Rural Residents," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 8(2), pages 1-13, February.
    4. Martínez, L. Miguel & Viegas, José Manuel, 2013. "A new approach to modelling distance-decay functions for accessibility assessment in transport studies," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 26(C), pages 87-96.
    5. Ryan, Jean & Pereira, Rafael H.M. & Andersson, Magnus, 2023. "Accessibility and space-time differences in when and how different groups (choose to) travel," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    6. Berg, Jessica & Henriksson, Malin, 2020. "In search of the ‘good life’: Understanding online grocery shopping and everyday mobility as social practices," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    7. Xian, Shi & Qi, Zhixin & Yip, Ngai-ming, 2022. "Beyond home neighborhood: Mobility, activity and temporal variation of socio-spatial segregation," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    8. Ge, Erjia & Lai, Poh-Chin & Zhang, Xiulei & Yang, Xiaohuan & Li, Xuezheng & Wang, Haiying & Wei, Xiaolin, 2015. "Regional transport and its association with tuberculosis in the Shandong province of China, 2009–2011," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 46(C), pages 232-243.
    9. Wang, Yaoli & Winter, Stephan & Tomko, Martin, 2018. "Collaborative activity-based ridesharing," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 131-138.

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