Course Summary
This course explores alternative mobility narratives that challenge mainstream car-centric transportation systems and examines the role of urban design in shaping sustainable transportation systems.Key Learning Points
- Learn about the history and impact of car-centric transportation systems
- Explore alternative mobility narratives and their potential benefits
- Examine the role of urban design in shaping sustainable transportation systems
Related Topics for further study
- Urban Design
- Sustainable Transportation
- Alternative Mobility Narratives
- Car-Centric Transportation Systems
- Environmental Sustainability
Learning Outcomes
- Gain a deep understanding of the impact of car-centric transportation systems on the environment and society
- Explore alternative mobility narratives and their potential benefits for sustainable transportation
- Examine the role of urban design in shaping sustainable transportation systems
Prerequisites or good to have knowledge before taking this course
- Basic knowledge of urban design and transportation systems
- Access to a computer and internet connection
Course Difficulty Level
IntermediateCourse Format
- Online
- Self-paced
Similar Courses
- Sustainable Urban Planning
- Greening the Economy: Sustainable Cities
Related Education Paths
Related Books
Description
Ready to imagine a radically different mobility future? This course is about the stories that we tell ourselves about why and how we move. By critically examining our current narratives, we help you think about mobility in a new way. Using systems dynamics modelling, we explore how a mobility innovation (of your choice) impacts our mobility system as a whole, for better or for worse. This course will invite you to reflect on our mainstream mobility narrative built on engineering and economics. But warning: you may end up never looking at mobility in the same way again!
Knowledge
- We will reflect on the role of language and narratives in shaping our views on mobility, transport policy and mobility innovation
- You will learn about the implied (but invisible) homo-economicus in our thinking about mobility and our transportation system
- We present 4 alternatives to the homo-economicus model: 1)mobility as unnecessity 2)mobility as commons 3)mobility as play 4)mobility as interaction
- In the final project, you will choose a mobility innovation and critically reflect on it from these alternative and meaningful perspectives.
Outline
- Week 1: Why Mobility Language Matters
- Course Introduction with Marco te Brömmelstroet and George Liu
- The Art of Using Mobility Language
- Loopy Tutorial and Explanation of Weekly Assignments
- Meet the team
- Content and Aim of Alternative Narratives for Urban Mobility Futures
- Keep notes to prepare for your final assignment!
- Support and feedback
- Block 1 content
- "Interpretative flexibility" and "Discourse institutionalization"
- Don't Say 'Cyclists,' Say 'People on Bikes'
- What to Do if You’re Hit by a Car
- Practice Quiz: "Interpretative flexibility" and "Discourse institutionalization"
- Block 1 Graded Quiz
- Week 2: The Dominant Narrative: Mobility as Disutility
- Block 2 Intro with Miloš Mladenović
- Block 2 content
- "Current key imaginaries of mobility" and "From economic thinking to economic being"
- Texas A&M Urban Mobility Report
- Elon Musk's Cybertruck
- Videos on the effects of the dominant narrative
- Definitions of Mobility Innovations
- Practice Quiz: "Current key imaginaries of mobility" and "From economic thinking to economic being"
- Block 2 Graded Quiz
- Week 3: Alternative 1: Mobility as Unnecessity
- Block 3 Intro with António Ferreira
- Block 3 content
- Immotility as resilience? A key consideration for transport policy and research
- (Optional) The social destruction of speed
- If Seeing the World Helps Ruin It, Should We Stay Home?
- Viewpoint blog on mindful traveling
- Practice Quiz: Immotility as resilience? A key consideration for transport policy and research
- Block 3 Graded Quiz
- Week 4: Alternative 2: Commoning Mobility
- Block 4 Intro with Anna Nikolaeva
- Talking Living Streets with Ghent’s Vice Mayor Filip Watteeuw | Streetfilms.org
- Prompt video for forum post on COVID-19 and Commoning Mobility
- Block 4 content
- Commoning mobility: Towards a new politics of mobility transitions
- How this Amsterdam inventor gave bike-sharing to the world
- Practice Quiz: Commoning mobility: Towards a new politics of mobility transitions
- Block 4 Graded Quiz
- Week 5: Alternative 3: Mobility as Play
- Block 5 Intro with Marco te Brömmelstroet and George Liu
- Block 5 content
- Have a good trip! Expanding our concepts of the quality of travel time with flow theory
- Why Run? BBC Radio Four Thought episode with Adharanand Finn
- Practice quiz: Have a good trip! Expanding our concepts of the quality of travel time with Flow theory
- Block 5 Graded Quiz
- Week 6: Alternative 4: Mobility as Interaction
- Block 6 content
- Travelling together alone and alone together: mobility and potential exposure to diversity
- Jane Jacobs's Sidewalk Ballet
- People-centered methods for cycling
- Practice Quiz: Travelling together alone and alone together: mobility and potential exposure to diversity
- Block 6 Graded Quiz
- Week 7: Final Assignment
- “Mobility as meaningful part of societies“
- “Mobility as meaningful part of societies“
Summary of User Reviews
Discover alternative mobility narratives in this engaging course on Coursera. Users have praised the course for its thought-provoking content and insightful lectures. Overall, the course has received high ratings from users.Key Aspect Users Liked About This Course
Many users found the course to be thought-provoking and insightful.Pros from User Reviews
- Engaging lectures
- In-depth exploration of alternative mobility narratives
- Thought-provoking content
- Insightful perspectives
- Great resources and readings
Cons from User Reviews
- Some users found the pacing of the course to be slow
- Some users felt that the course could benefit from more interactive elements
- Some users found the course to be focused more on theory than practical applications
Alternative Mobility Narratives
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Ready to imagine a radically different mobility future? This course is about the stories that we tell ourselves about why and how we move....
