Beyond speed: transport policymaking in a complex world

For a long time, mobility policy and research went hand in hand with a focus on accessibility: the possible number of places that can be reached using the mobility system. The focus was on the mobility system providing as much access to places as possible, along with a process of spatial concentration of functions. Traffic flow became a requirement for a functioning society. This need for traffic to flow has had problematic consequences by pushing out other values of space and living. When looking at traffic beyond accessibility, the full complexity of the spatial system comes into focus and requires a broadening of the frame of research and policy. This chapter introduces tools for policymakers and researchers to broaden their frame and embrace real-world complexity, away from optimising for mobility. It presents seven vectors that can help create societal value for policymakers and researchers beyond simply moving through space.