Re-enacting the mobility versus accessibility debate

Question 1

what is the accessibility approach

Answer 1

Focusses on improving the extent to which places, events, activities, and social contracts are accessible for people.

Question 2

Potential benefits of adopting accessibility approach

Answer 2

more coordinated objectives related to economic development, environmental justice, social equity, and urban form

Question 3

barriers of accessibility approach implementation

Answer 3

1. diverse definitions and indicators
2. skills mismatch
3. conflict with urban development
4. conflict with economic growth
5. redistributive economics
6. user-friendly tools
7. lack of required datasets
8. separation of planning organizations
9. disconnect between infrastructure and planning

Question 4

difference in mobility and accessibility approach goals

Answer 4

1. mobility: promoting physical travel, emphasizing enhancements to transport infrastructure, services and technologies. results in increased transport network speed and capacity
2. accessibility: aims to improve peoples accessibility to things. make important places and services more reachable by reducing travel distances and encouraging mixed land use

Question 5

barriers from experts on implementation of accessibility planning approach

Answer 5

• linguistic problem
• cost of the accessibility planning shift
• fragmented institutional frameworks
• pro-mobility powers and traditions
• the influence of mainstream economic science in transport planning

Question 6

pathways to promote a shift from mobility-centered to accessibility-centered planning

Answer 6

• to make accessibility part of common sense language
• to increase the economic appeal of the accessibility approach
• to develop and disseminate open access software and data
• to identify and mobilize implementation niches
• to develop a holistic understanding of accessibility
• to adopt an evolutionary understanding of the mobility-accessibility debate