Policy mixes for urban mobility transitions: Diffusing sustainable mobility options whilst reducing car dependency

Car dependency is one of the greatest challenges facing cities as it is linked to socio-economic inequalities, health issues, greenhouse gas emissions, and air pollution. Much work has gone into finding technological solutions and studying policies aimed at promoting modal shifts, but car ownership and use has persisted. Conflicts over public space allocation for mobility have intensified and an unequal access to different mobility modes continues, pointing to the need to better govern urban mobility transitions. To address these challenges, POLICYMIX4MOBILITY aims to create an inter- and transdisciplinary understanding of policy mixes and their effects (i.e. policy packages) based on a mix of policies that support sustainable mobility practices and reduce car use. The work is informed by a novel conceptual framework, bridging qualitative (case studies), quantitative (modelling) and transdisciplinary (urban labs, forum) methodological approaches in an innovative research design to assess existing and develop prospective policy mixes. Working with city administrations, the project co-creates a toolbox to foster institutional, procedural, and social innovations and political strategies to navigate the politics of reducing car dependency. The outcomes are evidence for creating integrative and transformative policy mixes whilst dealing with their effects, making them more socially just and moving towards climate neutrality.