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Time, justice and the future of mobility: Essays in philosophy of transport
KTH, School of Architecture and the Built Environment (ABE), Philosophy and History, Philosophy.ORCID iD: 0000-0002-8653-0920
2022 (English)Doctoral thesis, comprehensive summary (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

This thesis in philosophy consists of an introduction and five papers on three themes related to transport: valuations of time, the metric of transport justice, and future mobility solutions. 

The first paper analyses the properties of time as an economic resource taking into account literature on behaviour concerning time. The intent is to add to the understanding of the underlying assumption of transferability between time and money in the context of transportation.

The second paper is on the metric of transport justice. If we are concerned with distributive justice in the context of transportation, what type of good is being distributed? So far, most of the transport literature on transport justice takes accessibility to be the most appropriate metric. However, I argue that many operationalisations of accessibility are insufficient as metrics of justice. They are both too narrow and exclude relevant burdens of transportation. Additionally, accessibility can be achieved by other, non-travel-based means. I end by formulating tentative criteria for an alternative metric of transport justice. 

The third paper considers temporal justice in the context of transportation. Building on an argument against the claim of substitutability between time and money, I argue that temporal perspectives have been overlooked in the literature on transport justice. In part, this might be due to accessibility being the established metric of justice. Most common measures of accessibility do not capture temporal constraints and might consequently not capture temporal inequalities. Based on the case of gender differences in travel patterns and behaviour, I argue that an alternative account of the appropriate metric of transport justice is needed to capture temporal constraints and reflect gender inequalities sufficiently. 

The fourth paper argues that the diversity of possible mobility solutions based on self-driving vehicles has been somewhat overlooked in the current literature on the value of travel time. Thus, the complexity of valuing travel time for self-driving vehicles has not been fully addressed. The paper consists of a morphological analysis of the parameters that might impact the value of travel time for self-driving vehicles and a deeper analysis of five plausible self-driving vehicle mobility concepts. It is claimed that not all such concepts can be easily mapped into transport modes. It might be more appropriate to differentiate the value of travel based on travel characteristics.

The fifth paper is a literature review of work on attitudes toward automation technology, specifically self-driving vehicles. In particular, I examine the narratives and values related to gender. Generally, women tend to be more sceptical of the prospect of automated vehicles. The review found that this tendency is often explained by women being more risk-averse and less tech-savvy. Moreover, the policy recommendations in the examined literature based focus on educational efforts. Such perspectives can downplay or neglect valid reasons why women are less enthusiastic. Moreover, needs related to women's specific travel patterns might not be considered in the design and planning process. In conclusion, more awareness in needed of the gender differences, needs and expectations to ensure that future transport solutions are designed with everyone in mind. 

Abstract [sv]

Denna avhandling i filosofi består av en introduktion och fem artiklar som på olika sätt handar om transport. Övergripande kan transportforskning sägas handla om att studera transportsystemet och dess samverkan med och påverkan på samhället och människor. Transportforskning är ofta tvärvetenskaplig men hittills har transportsystemet fått relativt lite uppmärksamhet av filosofer. Detta menar jag är synd, transporter utgör en inte obetydande del av vår vardag och har stor påverkan på hur vårt samhälle ser ut. Därmed finns en rad relevanta och intressanta frågor gällande hur transporter fungerar och bör fungera i framtiden.  

Inledningen till avhandlingen består av en kort introduktion av transportekonomi, en diskussion kring filosofins roll i detta sammanhang och en genomgång av tre teman: värdering av tid, rättvisa och framtidens transportsätt. Därefter sammanfattas artiklarna och slutligen dras korta slutsatser.

Den första artikeln i den här avhandlingen handlar om hur förhållandet mellan tid och pengar kan bättre förstås genom att utgå från tiden som det primära att värdesätta. I transportekonomi, likt traditionell mikroekonomi, utgår man från ett antagande om stabila rationella preferenser hos individer. Givet skillnader mellan hur individer verkar resonera kring tid jämfört med pengar kan man dock ställa sig frågan om det skulle kunna vara annorlunda att vara rationell med avseende på tid jämfört med att vara rationell med avseende på pengar. Sammantaget hävdar vi att det enkla förhållandet mellan tid och pengar inte är tillräckligt rättfärdigat i ljuset av de faktiska skillnaderna mellan tid och pengar som verkar föreligga.

Den andra artikeln i avhandlingen handlar om hur rättvisa ska förstås inom ’transport’. Om man vill undersöka huruvida en fördelning av 'transport' är rättvis, vad är det då som har eller ska fördelas? I artikeln argumenterar jag för att måttet 'tillgänglighet' både inte är tillräckligt, eftersom vissa relevanta aspekter av transport inte täcks in, och problematiskt eftersom transport inte alltid är nödvändigt för 'tillgänglighet'. Ska man ska mäta 'tillgänglighet' finns det inte skäl särskilja tillgänglighet tack vare fysiska transporter utan man bör likställa, till exempel, digitala alternativ. Ett meningsfullt mått på transporträttvisa bör istället mäta individers möjligheter att förflytta sig. 

Det tredje artikeln kopplar samman tid och rättvisa. Tid (och tidsrättvisa) har uppmärksammats relativt lite inom politisk filosofi. En anledning är troligen att det förutsätts att tid och pengar är utbytbara. Det verkar dock finnas goda skäl till att studera rättvis fördelning av tid i sig, i synnerhet inom transport där restid och restidsförkortningar är centralt. Jag menar dock att om man använder måttet 'tillgänglighet' riskerar man att inte kunna fånga orättvisor sett till just tid.  

I fjärde artikeln handlar om värdering av restid för självkörande fordon. Värdet av restid beror traditionellt (bland annat) på transportmedel, det vill säga om resan görs med bil, buss eller tåg. Självkörande bilar har i litteraturen setts som ytterligare resslag, ofta en ny sorts bil. Vi menar dock att självkörande fordon kan mynna ut i många olika sorters transportmedel där vissa kommer att vara nya sett till resegenskaper. Värdering av restid för självkörande fordon bli därför mer komplext än att lägga till ett eller ens några ytterligare transportmedel. 

Slutligen så är den femte artikeln en literaturstudie av artiklar som handlar om attityder gentemot självkörande bilar. I flera artiklar som analyserats framkommer det att kvinnor överlag är mer negativt inställda till självkörande bilar, jämfört med män. Bilden som framstår är att man inte anser att kvinnor kan ha legitima anledningar till att vara mer skeptiska. Samtidigt diskuteras inte kvinnor specifika resmönster, förutsättningar eller behov. Risken blir att man inte utformar transportlösningar som blir attraktiva för kvinnor, och att de fördelar som ofta lyfts med självkörande bilar (t.ex. mer hållbart resande) då inte realiseras.

Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Stockholm: KTH Royal Institute of Technology, 2022. , p. 83
Series
TRITA-ABE-DLT ; 229
Keywords [en]
transport justice, mobility, accessibility, philosophy of the city
National Category
Philosophy
Research subject
Philosophy
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-310338ISBN: 978-91-8040-183-8 (print)OAI: oai:DiVA.org:kth-310338DiVA, id: diva2:1647975
Public defence
2022-04-28, F3, Lindstedtsvägen 26, KTH Campus, videolänk https://kth-se.zoom.us/j/64987927285, Stockholm, 10:00 (English)
Opponent
Supervisors
Note

QC 20220404

Available from: 2022-04-04 Created: 2022-03-29 Last updated: 2022-06-25Bibliographically approved
List of papers
1. Let Me Save You Some Time... On Valuing Travelers' Time in Urban Transportation
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Let Me Save You Some Time... On Valuing Travelers' Time in Urban Transportation
2019 (English)In: Essays in Philosophy, E-ISSN 1526-0569, Vol. 20, no 2, article id 10Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Systems of urban transportation are largely shaped through planning practices. In transport economics, the benefits of infrastructure investments consist mainly of travel time savings calculated using monetary values of time. The economic interpretation of the value of travel time has significantly shaped our urban environment and transportation schemes. However, there is often an underlying assumption of transferability between time and money, which arguably does not sufficiently take into account the specific features of time. In this paper, we analyze the various properties of time as an economic resource using findings in behavioral economics and psychology. Due to limitations in the standard model, it is proposed that an alternative model value should be investigated in which time rather than money is the primary carrier of and the basic features of such a model are outlined. An improved understanding the nature of time as a source of utility puts us in a better position to determine what aspects of time matter. Additionally, the analysis can be applied to further develop modeling where value of time plays a significant role; such as new models for the planning of urban transport.

National Category
Philosophy
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-265146 (URN)10.7710/1526-0569.1640 (DOI)
Note

QC 20191216

Available from: 2019-12-11 Created: 2019-12-11 Last updated: 2023-12-21Bibliographically approved
2. Transport justice of what?
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Transport justice of what?
(English)Manuscript (preprint) (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

This article explores the question of the metric of justice in the context of transport research. Here, the term 'transport' encompasses everything related to personal travel. Assuming we are concerned with distributive justice, what type of good is it that is being distributed? So far, most of the transport literature on transport justice takes accessibility, i.e., the potential of accessing a range of options of services and goods, to be the most appropriate metric. However, I argue that the common measures of accessibility are insufficient as the metric of justice. They are both too narrow and exclude relevant burdens of transportation. Additionally, accessibility can be achieved by other, non-travel-based means, which has to be taken into account. Lastly, I suggest tentative criteria for an alternative metric of transport justice.

National Category
Philosophy
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-310179 (URN)
Note

QC 20220325

Available from: 2022-03-23 Created: 2022-03-23 Last updated: 2022-06-25Bibliographically approved
3. Bridging Temporal and Transport Justice: A case for considerations of time use in urban justice
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Bridging Temporal and Transport Justice: A case for considerations of time use in urban justice
2022 (English)In: East Asian Journal of Philosophy, ISSN 2813-0448, Vol. 1, no 3, p. 45-69Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

The transportation system is essential for urban life – the spatial nature of our cities requires us to travel. Hence, we need to spend time in transit. However, time is a scarce resource. In transportation research, travel time savings are the key benefit of transportation improvements. Yet, “time savings” primarily function as a proxy for presumed societal benefits rather than reflect actual reductions in travel time. Moreover, time constraints are rarely considered in the transport justice literature. Based on the case of gender differences in travel patterns and travel time, this paper argues that a lack of interest in time is partly due to accessibility being the established metric for transport justice. Nevertheless, temporal inequality should be a concern for urban justice. The answer to “justice of what” needs to include a temporal component. By connecting the literature on temporal justice with the literature on transport justice, this paper considers the foundations of a time-specific metric as well as its advantages and disadvantages.

Keywords
urban justice, temporal justice, transport justice, accessibility, gender differences
National Category
Philosophy
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-310178 (URN)10.19079/eajp.1.3.45 (DOI)
Note

QC 20220404

Available from: 2022-03-23 Created: 2022-03-23 Last updated: 2024-03-18Bibliographically approved
4. The complexity of value of travel time for self-driving vehicles – a morphological analysis
Open this publication in new window or tab >>The complexity of value of travel time for self-driving vehicles – a morphological analysis
2021 (English)In: Transportation planning and technology (Print), ISSN 0308-1060, E-ISSN 1029-0354, Vol. 44, no 4, p. 400-417Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Abstract [en]

Understanding the value of travel time for mobility concepts based on self-driving vehicles is crucial to accurately value transport investments and predict future travel patterns. In this paper, we carry out a morphological analysis to illustrate the diversity of mobility concepts based on self-driving vehicles and the complexity of determining the value of travel time for such concepts. We consider four categories of parameters that directly or indirectly impact the value of travel time: (i) vehicle characteristics, (ii) operating principles, (iii) journey characteristics and (iv) traveler characteristics. The parameters and respective attributes result in a morphological matrix that spans all possible solutions. Out of these, we analyze five plausible solutions based on the implications of the concept characteristics on the total value of travel time. We conclude by suggesting an alternative approach to differentiate value of travel time based on travel characteristics rather than the usual decomposition into transport modes.

Keywords
value of travel time, value of time, self-driving vehicles, morphological analysis
National Category
Transport Systems and Logistics
Research subject
Transport Science
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-293528 (URN)10.1080/03081060.2021.1919349 (DOI)000756616100001 ()2-s2.0-85105195881 (Scopus ID)
Note

Not duplicate with diva:1452295

QC 20210429

Available from: 2021-04-28 Created: 2021-04-28 Last updated: 2022-06-25Bibliographically approved
5. Norms and gendered narratives in the studies of attitudes toward automated vehicles – a review
Open this publication in new window or tab >>Norms and gendered narratives in the studies of attitudes toward automated vehicles – a review
(English)Manuscript (preprint) (Other academic)
Abstract [en]

It is believed that a transition to automated vehicles can facilitate a transition to a more sustainable transport system. However, this presumes an emphasis on shared mobility and swift adoption of such new transportation alternatives. There has been a rise in papers that examine attitudes towards driving automation technology and adoption intention in transportation research. In this paper, I carry out a review of such literature and examine the underlying narratives and values related to gender. Specifically, I analyze the gender-specific differences in attitudes towards automated vehicles and how they are explained. Many studies have found men to be more interested in using, owning, and paying for automated vehicles than women. Women have been found to be less tech-savvy and more concerned with safety. These findings consequently impact policy recommendations that strive to suggest ways of increasing interest in self-driving vehicles. However, the review shows that established differences in travel behavior, patterns, and needs between men and women are often ignored. This creates a risk of existing gender inequalities being sedimented and even perpetuated by unreflective policy, which is of ethical concern. 

Keywords
automated vehicles, gender inequalities, feminist philosophy of technology, ethics
National Category
Philosophy, Ethics and Religion
Identifiers
urn:nbn:se:kth:diva-310181 (URN)
Note

QC 20220325

Available from: 2022-03-23 Created: 2022-03-23 Last updated: 2022-06-25Bibliographically approved

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