Envisioning Future Urban Mobility: A Fossil-Free Urban Mobility System
Abstract: The transport sector contributes to climate change and environmental pollution; it is responsible for at least one third of total CO₂ emissions worldwide (Kammerlander et al., 2015). It therefore requires significant and swift transformations (Gupta, Chen, et al., 2024). Cities are the most crucial areas for these transformations, as the majority of the human population lives there and mobility activities are concentrated there (Zawieska & Pieriegud, 2018). However, sustainability transitions are extremely complex, and mobility is extraordinarily intertwined with the functioning of human societies and with fundamental human rights (Brömmelstroet et al., 2022; Kwiatkowski, 2018). This thesis addresses three key gaps in knowledge: 1) more knowledge is needed on how cities can prevent path dependency and lock-in mechanisms regarding private cars and fossil fuel dependency; 2) research on how successful sustainable mobility policies from one city can be transferred to another is lacking; 3) there are multiple sustainable mobility innovations and policies, but comparative studies analysing their effectiveness in reducing fossil fuel dependency are lacking.
To address these gaps, the thesis explored the following research question: How can urban mobility policies accelerate the transition away from fossil fuels in general, and in particular in Amsterdam, Utrecht, and Amersfoort? A mix-methods comparative case study analysis of three Dutch cities (Amsterdam, Utrecht & Amersfoort) was conducted through an SLR, mapping, policy document analysis, and thematic analysis of seventeen in-depth interviews with urban planners, policy makers and transportation experts. An integrated conceptual framework, combining Institutional Analysis (IA), the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP) framework and a custom assessment framework was applied to analyse the effectiveness of sustainable mobility policies and innovations in Amsterdam, Utrecht, and Amersfoort, in reducing fossil fuel dependency.
The analysis revealed that Amsterdam, Utrecht and Amersfoort deal with path dependency and lock-in mechanisms through 1) the implementation of a variety of policy instruments aimed at behavioural change and technological innovations, and 2) strong, courageous political leadership. Other cities aiming to reduce fossil fuel dependency can adopt a similar approach by tailoring the mix of policy instruments to their local context. To leave fossil fuels underground, policies should aim for reducing all life-cycle emissions which stem from urban mobility modes and infrastructures to maximize sustainability and leave fossil fuels underground. Behavioural change, in the form of traveling less, is the first step to reach urban sustainable mobility, and when travel is necessary, the most sustainable option should be chosen.