When people move from A to B, they can listen to music, let their mind wander, communicate a status, sometimes even read or work. Laura Gebhardt from the DLR Institute of Transport Research advocates taking more account of these needs in research.
Ms. Gebhardt, what do people want from mobility?
Mobility is not an end in itself. It enables us to meet needs. For example, visiting friends or otherwise taking part in social life. Depending on the mode of transport, an additional benefit can then arise. For example in the form of Me-Time: I can listen to music while driving, let my thoughts wander or communicate a certain status with my car. When riding a bike, the additional benefit can be physical exercise, fresh air or the stylization of a lifestyle. Depending on the user group, the requirements are different. People with a tight schedule need a reliable, time-efficient way of being on the move – others place more value on comfort and quality of time.
How important are factors like me-time?
This is of course very different from person to person. For many, simply saving time is important. Reliable and fast public transport can motivate them to choose it and stick with it. However, the need for relaxation and self-determination associated with driving should not be underestimated. This must be taken into account when designing mobility offers.
Such as?
The need for me-time could be addressed with car sharing and ride pooling offers. Ridepooling vehicles can be, for example, shuttles, small buses that combine the travel requests of several passers-by. In other words, a modern form of a call bus. These sometimes already offer space for me-time, for example with plenty of space, distance from passengers and privacy, which meet the need for privacy. In the case of personalized car sharing, for example, individual settings for favorite music or seating positions that convey a driving experience similar to that of a private car would be conceivable.
What is decisive for the acceptance of new concepts and vehicles?
So far, the debate has been very focused on technical solutions and organizational aspects, such as the drive or the accessibility of means of transport. But what use is a new technology that has been developed without considering the needs? For example, think of a train compartment that was designed optimally for people who work on their laptops, but which is difficult for someone with children and a lot of luggage.
Recent studies indicate that for a sustainable transformation of mobility, it is at least as relevant how these technologies are linked to certain human practices and emotions and embedded in their everyday routines. The car may be perceived as safe, flexible and comfortable – but this only becomes a benefit when safety, flexibility or comfort are important in the individual’s everyday practice. If you just want to get from A to B quickly, you don’t need it. Research must focus much more closely on emotion. And that’s what we do here at the Institute for Transport Research. We conduct interdisciplinary research.
What specifically influences whether people accept the solutions?
Three types of motives are discussed in research: instrumental, symbolic, and affective. The instrumental means the expediency of vehicle use – i.e. speed, flexibility, costs, safety and so on. The symbolic motif means, for example, the car as a status symbol and an expression of one’s own personality. And affective motives refer to the emotions – for example the mood that a car puts me in when driving due to its design and driving behavior.
We have to consider how these motives are intertwined: a new vehicle can be technically perfect and no matter how sensible it is for the environment – it must also fit into the context and the benefits for people must be recognizable. For example, if you want to make bicycles appealing to them, you have to give priority to bicycles in urban space – it has to be fun to ride a bike there.
Read more: You can find the interview at helmholtz.de.
