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Families and transportation: Moving towards multimodality and altermobility?

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  • McLaren, Arlene Tigar

Abstract

This article explores the transport modal practices of parents with young children in everyday urban life. It is based on a qualitative multi-site approach that takes into account the geographic location, urban form and socio-economic characteristics of four Vancouver (British Columbia) neighborhoods. Our analysis of semi-structured interviews with parents reveals that modal practices were contextually contingent along a spectrum of auto-dependency, multimodality and altermobility. The results expose the contradictions, inequities and social ambiguities of parental modal practices and raise questions about how they might represent possible instances of a transition away from auto-dependency and towards sustainable transportation.

Suggested Citation

  • McLaren, Arlene Tigar, 2016. "Families and transportation: Moving towards multimodality and altermobility?," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 218-225.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jotrge:v:51:y:2016:i:c:p:218-225
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2016.01.006
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    2. Groth, Sören, 2019. "Multimodal divide: Reproduction of transport poverty in smart mobility trends," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 125(C), pages 56-71.
    3. Klinger, Thomas, 2017. "Moving from monomodality to multimodality? Changes in mode choice of new residents," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 104(C), pages 221-237.
    4. Manish Shirgaokar & Kelly Lanyi-Bennett, 2020. "I’ll have to drive there: How daily time constraints impact women’s car use differently than men’s," Transportation, Springer, vol. 47(3), pages 1365-1392, June.
    5. Rozynek, Caroline & Schwerdtfeger, Stefanie & Lanzendorf, Martin, 2022. "The influence of limited financial resources on daily travel practices. A case study of low-income households with children in the Hanover Region (Germany)," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
    6. Kent, Jennifer L. & Mulley, Corinne & Stevens, Nick, 2020. "Challenging policies that prohibit public transport use: Travelling with pets as a case study," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C), pages 86-94.
    7. Van Eenoo, Eva & Boussauw, Kobe, 2023. "“That's not feasible without a car”: An exploration of car-dependent practices," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 144(C), pages 1-10.
    8. Laura McCarthy & Alexa Delbosc & Graham Currie & Andrew Molloy, 2021. "Trajectories and transitions: mobility after parenthood," Transportation, Springer, vol. 48(1), pages 239-256, February.
    9. Laura McCarthy & Alexa Delbosc & Graham Currie & Andrew Molloy, 2017. "Factors influencing travel mode choice among families with young children (aged 0–4): a review of the literature," Transport Reviews, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 37(6), pages 767-781, November.
    10. Sangwan Lee, 2022. "Exploring Associations between Multimodality and Built Environment Characteristics in the U.S," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(11), pages 1-16, May.
    11. Timmer, Sebastian & Bösehans, Gustav & Henkel, Sven, 2023. "Behavioural norms or personal gains? – An empirical analysis of commuters‘ intention to switch to multimodal mobility behaviour," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 170(C).
    12. Laura McCarthy & Alexa Delbosc & Graham Currie & Andrew Molloy, 2020. "Parenthood and cars: A weakening relationship?," Transportation, Springer, vol. 47(3), pages 1127-1145, June.
    13. Lixun Liu & Yujiang Wang & Robin Hickman, 2023. "How Rail Transit Makes a Difference in People’s Multimodal Travel Behaviours: An Analysis with the XGBoost Method," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(3), pages 1-23, March.
    14. Behrsin, Ingrid & Benner, Chris, 2017. "Contested spaces and subjectivities of transit: Political ecology of a bus rapid transit development in Oakland, California," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 61(C), pages 95-103.
    15. Delbosc, Alexa & McCarthy, Laura, 2021. "Pushed back, pulled forward: Exploring the impact of COVID-19 on young adults’ life plans and future mobility," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 107(C), pages 43-51.
    16. Nan Ye & Linjie Gao & Zhicai Juan & Anning Ni, 2018. "Are People from Households with Children More Likely to Travel by Car? An Empirical Investigation of Individual Travel Mode Choices in Shanghai, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-14, December.

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