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Automated Mobility Transitions: Governing Processes in the UK

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  • Debbie Hopkins

    (Transport Studies Unit, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK)

  • Tim Schwanen

    (Transport Studies Unit, School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford, Oxford OX1 3QY, UK)

Abstract

Contemporary systems of mobility are undergoing a transition towards automation. In the UK, this transition is being led by (often new) partnerships between incumbent manufacturers and new entrants, in collaboration with national governments, local/regional councils, and research institutions. This paper first offers a framework for analyzing the governance of the transition, adapting ideas from the Transition Management (TM) perspective, and then applies the framework to ongoing automated vehicle transition dynamics in the UK. The empirical analysis suggests that the UK has adopted a reasonably comprehensive approach to the governing of automated vehicle innovation but that this approach cannot be characterized as sufficiently inclusive, democratic, diverse and open. The lack of inclusivity, democracy, diversity and openness is symptomatic of the post-political character of how the UK’s automated mobility transition is being governed. The paper ends with a call for a reconfiguration of the automated vehicle transition in the UK and beyond, so that much more space is created for dissent and for reflexive and comprehensive big picture thinking on (automated) mobility futures.

Suggested Citation

  • Debbie Hopkins & Tim Schwanen, 2018. "Automated Mobility Transitions: Governing Processes in the UK," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(4), pages 1-19, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:4:p:956-:d:138044
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    7. Smith, Angela & Dickinson, Janet E. & Marsden, Greg & Cherrett, Tom & Oakey, Andrew & Grote, Matt, 2022. "Public acceptance of the use of drones for logistics: The state of play and moving towards more informed debate," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 68(C).
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    9. Kassens-Noor, Eva & Dake, Dana & Decaminada, Travis & Kotval-K, Zeenat & Qu, Teresa & Wilson, Mark & Pentland, Brian, 2020. "Sociomobility of the 21st century: Autonomous vehicles, planning, and the future city," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 329-335.
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    12. Smith, Göran & Sochor, Jana & Karlsson, I.C. MariAnne, 2020. "Intermediary MaaS Integrators: A case study on hopes and fears," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 163-177.
    13. Pel, Bonno & Raven, Rob & van Est, Rinie, 2020. "Transitions governance with a sense of direction: synchronization challenges in the case of the dutch ‘Driverless Car’ transition," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 160(C).
    14. Cohen, Scott & Stienmetz, Jason & Hanna, Paul & Humbracht, Michael & Hopkins, Debbie, 2020. "Shadowcasting tourism knowledge through media: Self-driving sex cars?," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).
    15. Cohen, Scott A. & Hopkins, Debbie, 2019. "Autonomous vehicles and the future of urban tourism," Annals of Tourism Research, Elsevier, vol. 74(C), pages 33-42.
    16. Smith, Göran & Sørensen, Claus Hedegaard, 2023. "Public-private MaaS: Unchallenged assumptions and issues of conflict in Sweden," Research in Transportation Economics, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    17. Carr, Constance & Hesse, Markus, 2020. "Mobility policy through the lens of policy mobility: The post-political case of introducing free transit in Luxembourg," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    18. Nemoto, Eliane Horschutz & Korbee, Dorien & Jaroudi, Ines & Viere, Tobias & Naderer, Gabriele & Fournier, Guy, 2023. "Integrating automated minibuses into mobility systems – Socio-technical transitions analysis and multi-level perspectives," Technological Forecasting and Social Change, Elsevier, vol. 188(C).
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