Introduction to the Research

The Transportation Research Group, in co-operation with the Centre for Human Service Technology in the Dept. of Social Work Studies, has recently undertaken research into the possibility that new technology could be used to alleviate mobility-related social exclusion. A number of recent studies have identified links between (a lack of) transport and social exclusion. In identifying a mobility dimension to exclusion, this research concurs that lack, or denial, of access to adequate personal or motorised mobility can be a significant contributory factor to social exclusion.

An increase in motorised mobility, primarily the private car, may not by itself be a viable option in tackling mobility related exclusion, because of the negative environmental, health, social and community implications associated with increased motorised mobility. It is unlikely that improvements in public transport could be sufficient to serve all populations and there are delays inherent in improving the public transport system, because of both financial and more practical problems to do with the construction of infrastructure, delaying the benefits of better public transport.

This research aimed to uncover the potential for virtual mobility - 'a shorthand term for the process of accessing activities that traditionally require physical mobility, but which can now be undertaken via the Internet, without recourse to physical travel' - to help in the alleviation of some of the symptoms of mobility-related social exclusion.

The research has discovered that virtual mobility is currently both substituting for and supplementing current physical mobility. Significantly, there is evidence to suggest that virtual mobility is substituting for an increase in physical travel amongst some populations, where physical mobility is inaccessible or denied. However, the research has also uncovered some possible negative social and transport effects of virtual mobility.

The research was a year-long feasibility study which began in March 2001. It was jointly funded by the Department for Transport and the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council as part of the Future Integrated Transport research programme.