TY  - JOUR
PY  - 2001//
TI  - Automobility -- a social problem and theoretical concept
JO  - Environment and planning D: Society and space
A1  - Beckmann, Jörg
SP  - 593 – 607
EP  - 593 – 607
VL  - 19
IS  - 5
N2  - In this paper, I explore automobility as the dominant type of contemporary everyday mobility. I critically review recent attempts to conceptualise the social role of cars and subsequently suggest a three-dimensional model to theorise automobility further as a modern mobility paradigm. This theory of automobility assigns central importance to the subjects, the vehicles, and the spatiotemporalities that are involved in, and produced by, the car-system. For the purpose of outlining the content and internal dependencies of this three-dimensional model, I make use of theoretical assumptions gleaned from transport geography, modernisation theory, as well as the sociology of technology. Furthermore, I argue that a somewhat orthodox form of automobilisation has become reflexive in the course of a growing public recognition of the inherent threats of the car to culture and nature. Under reflexive automobilisation almost all 'auto-subjects' are engaged in defining, interpreting, and responding to 'auto-risks'. They do not necessarily do this, however, in a self-critical fashion. Instead of fostering the rise of a different, postautomotive mobility paradigm, their responses often merely lead to a reproduction of traditional 'auto-scapes'.<p /> 
LA  - 
SN  - 0263-7758
UR  - http://dx.doi.org/10.1068/d222t
ID  - ref1
ER  -