Disruption: unlocking low carbon travel

This research, which is part of a large RCUK Energy Programme funded study, examines how ‘disruption’ affects people’s everyday mobilities; mobilities in organisations that generate travel demand; and within government where policy that determines our travel opportunities is made.

The project uses a range of innovative research methods to do this including capturing travel behaviour through Facebook and Twitter (project-specific accounts will be set up that participants will post to) and carrying out video-recorded mobile interviews.

It then brings together the different social actors, both ‘lay’ and ‘expert’ in a number of forums where they have the opportunity to ‘deliberate’ the different issues that will emerge throughout the research, and challenge each other about what needs to be done to capture the opportunities for change.

Lastly the project seeks to establish mechanisms for embedding these changes in everyday life, in organisational practices and in social policy, so that a substantial contribution to reducing carbon emissions from transport is achieved. The project is a collaboration with the University of Leeds (Lead), the University of Lancaster, the University of West of England, the Open University, Glasgow University, and Aberdeen University.