AAU Student Projects - visit Aalborg University's student projects portal
A master's thesis from Aalborg University
Book cover


Transition of the mobility system in Madrid

Author

Term

4. term

Publication year

2018

Submitted on

Pages

87

Abstract

En transition er et skifte fra et etableret socio-teknisk system til et nyt, som drives frem af nicheaktører, ofte for at forbedre bæredygtigheden. Dette speciale undersøger, hvordan Madrids bytransport kan bevæge sig fra et bildomineret "regime" til en cykel-"niche", fordi cykling kan være meget hurtig i byer, ikke forurener og styrker den sociale velfærd og folkesundheden. Med kvalitativ analyse af litteratur og seks interviews med centrale aktører undersøger jeg, hvordan aktører i Madrid gennem omtrent et årti har håndteret forandringen: ved at tilpasse sig pres fra det dominerende regime og den bredere "landskabs"-kontekst og ved at udnytte midlertidige tiltag som cykel-prioritetsbanen. Studiet bygger på Multi-Level Perspective (MLP)—som ser på nicher, regimer og bredere landskabstendenser—og Transition Management, en ramme for at styre langsigtede forandringer. Resultaterne tyder på, at cykel-prioritetsbanen understøtter transitionen ved at etablere cykling som en hverdagslig, utilitaristisk transportform i en sydeuropæisk kontekst, til lav pris, og ved at gøre det lettere senere at omdanne bilkørefelter til egentlige cykelstier.

A transition is a shift from an established socio-technical system to an emerging one promoted by niche actors, often to improve sustainability. This thesis examines how Madrid’s urban transport can move from a car-dominated “regime” to a bicycle “niche,” since cycling can be very fast in cities, does not pollute, and supports public welfare and health. Using qualitative analysis of literature and six interviews with key stakeholders, I explore how, over roughly a decade, actors in Madrid have managed this change by adapting to pressures from the dominant regime and the wider “landscape,” and by making use of temporary measures such as the bike priority lane. The study draws on the Multi-Level Perspective (MLP)—which looks at niches, regimes, and broader landscape trends—and Transition Management, a framework for guiding long-term change. The findings suggest that the bike priority lane supports the transition by establishing cycling as an everyday, utilitarian mode in a Southern European context, at low cost, and by paving the way for future conversion of traffic lanes into full bike lanes.

[This abstract was generated with the help of AI]