Transportation Inequality in Leeds: Mobility Justice Perspective

The following portfolio focuses on case study 4 and explores the inequalities within the transportation sector in the UK and Leeds in particular. According to Chatterjee et al. (2019), it is estimated that about a third of the UK population does not own a car and depends on public transport, thus, the current accessibility of transport systems in Leeds needs to be researched. This demographic populations comprises of young adults, ethnic minority, unemployed, low income earners, and people with mobility impairments (RiDC, 2023). First of all, there is a lack of mass transit in Leeds, and therefore transportation has such sustainability issues as accessibility and inclusiveness disparities. This leads to lack of sustainable options. From Sheller (2018), this essay employs mobility justice to make sense of transportation injustice and its effects on the society.

The idea of mobility justice offer a new perspective to look at transportation disadvantage in Leeds. Mobility justice is not limited to the transportation of cities (Sheller 2018). It encompasses how people get from one point to another and can be classified as follows; First is the micro level movement which is the bodily motion and secondly is the macro level movement which is immigration. Under the micro-level, the concepts would consider how factors such as gender, race, class, disability and sexuality influence one’s ability to move freely. Under the macro-level, this concept would consider the rights of diverse groups such as workers, refugees, migrants, students and high profile individuals to move freely. This concept also extends to the explicit power dynamics behind governance of mobilities and immobilities hence determining who has access to transportation. The concept, as articulated by Sheller (2018) emphasizes the need for inclusive, fair and equitable transportation systems that take into consideration the diverse needs of all people, ensuring fair access to opportunities and services.

According to Motability (2022), accessibility and inclusion within transport can be transformative; however, transportation options are not fully inclusive or accessible. The transportation inequalities in Leeds can be better understood when analysed through the mobility justice framework in order to reveal the broader social and environmental implications. In regard to transport accessibility, Leeds experiences inequalities in transport-related resources, e.g., insufficient public transport, long wait hours, and lack of access to public transport in the interior parts, among others (Leeds Civil Trust, 2021). Attributed to factors such as location, and physical infrastructure, and limiting factors such as high costs, and lack of frequency of public transport in remote areas, the residents interior parts of Leeds are excluded from access to convenient, safe, reliable, forms of transportation. As a result, these communities face challenges such as economic disparities, educational inequality, and limited access to healthcare.

With regard to economic disparities, the communities living in the interior parts where there are few or no public transport have limited access to reliable public transport. This hinders job opportunities for low-income individuals who cannot afford private cars, hence creating cycle of poverty as individuals struggle to secure and maintain employment due to transport barriers. Mobility justice advocates for investment in public transport infrastructure for all to ensure everyone has equal access to job opportunities regardless of their economic status. Another social implication is educational inequality in that students from underserved areas may face difficulties in commuting to and from schools and universities, hence impacting their educational outcomes. The mobility justice framework emphasises the need for equitable transportation systems that provide all students with the means to access educational institutions, thereby promoting equal opportunities for academic success. Lastly is the limitation to healthcare access as difficulties in reaching medical centers impacts the overall health and well-being of the patients. Mobility justice calls for transportation policies prioritizing access to healthcare services, ensuring citizens get timely medical care.

References

Chatterjee, K., Clark, B., Nguyen, A., Wishart, R., et al 2019. Access to transport and life opportunities. Preparation fpr Department fopr Transport. Retrieved from https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/5d7f714ded915d522df7ada1/access_to_transport_report.pdf [Accessed November 1, 2024).

Leeds Civil Trust, 2021. Imagine an Exceleent Bus Service for Leeds. Retrieved from LCT_IEBSL_A4Report_42PP_St05_Spreads.pdf [Accessed November 1, 2024]

Lucas, K., Stokes, G., Bastiaanssen, J. & Burkinshaw, J. (2019). Inequality in mobility and access in the UK Transport System. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/784685/future_of_mobility_access.pdf [Accessed on October 20, 2024]

Motability 2022. The Transport Accessibility Gap. The opportunity to improve transport for disabled people. Retrieved from https://www.motabilityfoundation.org.uk/media/iwaidhxk/motability_transport-accessibility-gap-report_march-2022_final.pdf [Accessed on October 20, 2024]

RiDC, (2023). Accessible and Inclusive Transport. Innovation in UK transport to enable access and inclusion, successes and opportunities. https://iuk-business-connect.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/InnovateUK_Accessible-and-Inclusive-Transport-Report_Screen_9-3-23.pdf [Accessed on October 20, 2024]

Sheller, M. 2018. Mobility Justice. The Politics of Movement in an Age of Extremes

Sheller, M. 2023. Mobility justice after climate coloniality: mobile commoning as a relational ethics of care. Australian Geographer, 54(4), 433-447.