Shifting Mobility Part 1
Shifting Mobility Part 1
Subtitle: Transforming Planning and Design for New Human Mobility Code
Edition: 1st Edition
Author: Dewan Masud Karim
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Description
In the face of resource depletion, environmental changes, lifestyle changes, demographic and digital adaptation, old ideologies of city building and expensive and complex automobility solutions are in freefall. These changes are creating severe friction between the old and new paradigms. This book provides new perspectives through the process of ideological disassociation and concepts of human mobility code. The basic premise of the book, human mobility is an essential component of our creativity that comes from our unconscious desire to become a part of a community. Several new concepts in the book starts with the hallmark of new discovery of human mobility code and its implications of urban mobility boundary systems to stay within safe planetary zone. A new discovery of human mobility code from comprehensive research finding prove that each individual develops a unique mobility footprint and become our mobility identity. Beyond individual hallmarks, human develops collective mobility codes through interaction with the third space on which entire mobility systems lie and are created by the fundamentals of city planning and the design process. Readers are introduced to an innovative mobility planning process and reinvention of multimodal mobility approaches based on new mobility code while formulating new concepts, practical solutions and implementation techniques, tools, policies, and processes to reinforce low-carbon mobility options while addressing social equity, environmental, and health benefits. Finally, the book arms us with knowledge to prevent the disaster of full technological enlightenment against our natural human mobility code.
Table of Contents
- Section I. Origin and Evolution of Human Mobility.
- Chapter 1: The Interconnected World of Mobility.
- Chapter 2: The Invisible Footprint of Human Mobility code.
- Section II. Understanding Our New Mobility Code
- Chapter 3: Sensing Mobility DNA.
- Chapter 4: Our Hidden Mobility Code.
- Section III. Shifting to Local and Low-Carbon Energy Systems
- Chapter 5: Energy Transformation: Feeding the new mobility ecosystem.
- Section IV. Implementation of New Mobility Code
- Chapter 6: Physical Mobility(-as-a-Place) for Everyday: Reinventing Public Realm.
- Section V. Implementation of New Mobility
- Chapter 7: Shifting Flexible Policies for a New Mobility Ecosystem.
Key Concepts
- Mobility DNA
- Mobility Boundary
- Human Resonance
- Mobility Form
- Mobility in Motion
- Mobility in Stillness
- Mobility Energy Planning
- Mobility-as-a-place - Invisible Space
- Mobility-as-a-place - Equitable Street Code
- Mobility-as-a-place - Multimodal Mobility Eco-Hub
- Mobility-as-a-place - Mobility Park
- Mobility-as-a-place - Human Space
Mobility DNA
At the heart of this book lies a unifying idea: the existence of a hidden “mobility code” made up of unique DNA-like elements that shape how we move. Mobility is more than getting from point A to B—it reflects who we are. We move to satisfy internal, often unconscious desires, forming patterns and habits that create a unique “mobility motif.” Humans, as self-organizing organisms, move for survival, connection, and pleasure. These movements, along with periods of stillness, become ingrained in our daily lives, forming internal structures that shape our routines. Unlike other decisions driven by conscious thought, our mobility choices are often instinctive, influenced by feelings, emotions, and both tangible and intangible needs. Over time, these habits reveal individual, group, or collective movement patterns. Using available tools and transportation modes, we find ways to move efficiently and economically. This “mobility code” evolves like biological DNA—shaped by our environment, geography, culture, and infrastructure. Though it adapts to new conditions, it tends to return to its stable form, preserving our unique mobility identity. This concept provides a new lens through which to understand how we move—and why.
Mobility Boundary
Our current mobility systems place immense strain on the planet, pushing us beyond safe environmental limits. The “mobility boundary” concept (Karim, 2017) addresses this by identifying limits to mobility expansion that balance human well-being with planetary health. It challenges the unsustainable cycle of endless growth, even with so-called efficient technologies, and calls for abandoning unchecked, utility-driven capitalism. Instead, it promotes setting clear mobility limits to control demand, reduce megastructure supply, and guide planning toward a low-emission, multimodal future.
Human Resonance
Despite building vast mobility systems in the 20th century, many assumptions about human needs remain vague and outdated in planning. To truly rebuild for people, we must fix these flaws and embrace a fresh approach that reflects real human experiences. This book introduces the human resonance concept, built on the idea that if a city works for women—who are more sensitive to safety and place—it works for all. It incorporates both visible and invisible aspects of human behavior, promoting inclusive, responsive, and human-centered mobility design.
Mobility Form
Urban design and built form shape every aspect of city-building—except mobility, which often lacks alignment with area context. This book introduces the concept of “mobility form” to bridge that gap, tailoring mobility systems to match local built environments. It calls for a shift from car-dependent design to a context-sensitive multimodal ecosystem—rapid transit in dense areas, flexible or pooled options in rural zones. This approach offers strategic direction to move beyond auto-centric planning and deliver the right mobility mix for each neighbourhood.
Mobility in Motion
As mobility continues to evolve, our systems must adapt with flexibility. Today’s vehicle-centric model, driven by accelerationism and unchecked capitalism, demands ever-faster movement and increasing separation between modes—consuming precious urban space. This book challenges that model, proposing a shift toward an “uber-slow” pace aligned with urban life and livability. It reimagines moving space for slow lanes, flexible transit, micro-mobility, and small freight systems. Rather than chasing speed, we must design for harmony, shared space, and sustainable, human-centered movement.
Mobility in Stillness
Our desire to move is driven by our need to stay—staying gives meaning to mobility. Without stillness, we lose the purpose of movement, the sense of place, and the foundation of community. In a fast-moving vehicle-centric world, stopping has been forgotten. This book calls for reclaiming underused urban spaces for lingering—on corners, frontages, and stations—to restore human connection and community. Designing for stillness, especially in an aging society, revives altruism and counters the isolation created by car-dominated culture.
Mobility Energy Planning
Energy depletion is a critical yet often overlooked issue in mobility planning. The promise of electrification has led to higher GHG emissions, simply shifting problems rather than solving them. True energy demand management starts with travel demand reduction and builds on a low-emission multimodal system. Concepts like the energy-space continuum and eco-energy hubs offer local, accessible alternatives but require new urban design knowledge. This book proposes a proactive approach to energy-conscious mobility, ensuring sustainable movement without excessive energy use in the Anthropocene era.
Mobility-as-a-place - Invisible Space
Invisible public spaces exist all around us but remain unseen because systems built on rigid ideologies suppress their value. In urban mobility, many “third spaces”—like street corners, islands, and curb lanes—are underused or wasted, often sacrificed for vehicle space that is itself often unused or inefficient. This leads to lost opportunities for human interaction and cultural life. The book calls for reclaiming and redesigning these invisible spaces to restore vibrant street culture and improve urban quality of life.
Mobility-as-a-place - Equitable Street Code
Street space makes up the largest share of urban mobility areas, yet equitable design has been absent for decades. While concepts like Livable Streets and Complete Streets aimed to change this, they often fell short—favoring wealthy areas or becoming disguised road-widening projects. To address this, the book introduces two guiding principles: the Rule of Thirds—equally dividing street space into human, green, and movement zones—and the Rule of 30—limiting street width, speed, and city scale to ensure safer, more resilient, and equitable streets for all.
Mobility-as-a-place - Multimodal Mobility Eco-Hub
The 20th-century mobility system fueled urban inequality and social segregation by limiting access to central nodes. Transit-oriented planning aimed to fix this but led to gentrification near stations, neglecting broader communities. To counter this, the author introduced a neighbourhood-based eco-mobility hub—an inclusive, one-stop multimodal access point within a 3–5-minute walk. These social hubs reclaim forgotten urban corners, enabling walking, cycling, transit, and micromobility integration, while reconnecting people, places, and public life through equitable, human-centered design and planning frameworks.
Mobility-as-a-place - Mobility Park
Typical city parks are often inaccessible, isolated, and disconnected due to poor design and surrounding traffic. To reconnect people with green space, cities must reclaim lost green areas within common mobility corridors. Many cities worldwide now transform underused vehicle spaces—like ramps, medians, and oddly shaped street corners—into various types of green mobility spaces, from large parks to micro parkettes. This approach promotes environmental benefits, equitable access, and urban livability by integrating green space directly into daily human movement paths.
Mobility-as-a-place - Human Space
Designing cities with a human and environmental spirit often remains intangible in planning, despite humans shaping urban life. Mobility spaces once held diverse activities beyond fast car movement, enlivened by commerce, art, performance, nature, and social gathering. Reclaiming vehicle spaces is not enough; these spaces need to support lingering and community life through varied sizes and shapes. This book proposes six typologies—economic, identity, art, performance, organic, and educational spaces—to restore human-centered mobility planning and urban vitality.