From transport equity to mobility justice: an introduction

From utilitarianism or Rawl’s egalitarianism to Sen’s theory of capabilities, moral philosophy has always fascinated transport researchers and helped with navigating the unsolved issues of transport and justice by developing new frameworks and tools. More recently, the debate has opened up to other ontological positions and the need to decolonize the discipline, with a rich theoretical debate that struggles to translate into the daily practice of transport planning and policy. How do ideas around fairness, equity, equality, and justice influence transport research and practice and what should still be done? This chapter proposes a critical chronology on how different philosophies of justice have and are influencing transport research and planning. By using example and case-study vignettes on recent debates around active travel, transport decarbonization and inclusivity, the chapter also exemplifies the challenges still open and reflects on future research horizons.