Abstract

The chapter discusses further directions for research on the social implications of transport planning decisions, considering three dimensions that can enhance existing analytical and operational tools for enabling mobilities. First, the guiding concepts orienting evaluative and operational approaches require a specific definition in light of the contribution mobility can give to individuals and their opportunities. Second, existing tools need to be reshaped to emphasize the social implications of mobility. Third, the real-world conditions that influence policymaking processes in the domain of urban and transport issues deserve greater attention, together with the specificities of any given territorial setting. The theoretical relevance of socially-oriented approaches to mobility has been widely discussed, together with the potential operational inflections that they may receive. However, these three dimensions for future research may instead contribute to making such approaches feasible, replicable and able to influence the consolidated approaches to transport planning and policy.