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Short abstract:

Through empirical research on e-micromobility we demonstrate how and why test beds combined with engaged approaches to data collection generate opportunities to build place-based capability in mobility transitions that can inform future low-carbon mobility innovation strategy making.

Long abstract:

Developing strategies to encourage or enforce reductions in mobility-related energy demand can provoke a range of national and place-based responses: from advocacy and enthusiastic support; to protest and critical push-back. We conducted empirical research that sought to ground, locate and explore these responses by engaging in mobility experimentation through: conducting surveys on attitudes to e-micromobility (3200 responses); creating 3 neighbourhood test beds for e-cargo bike adoption; and collecting qualitative data from participating households (47 households, 235 interviews) in 3 medium-sized, UK cities. Drawing on STS scholarship that responsibilises research and the debates it generates as “world-making” practice (Latour 1992), we highlight three conceptually-informed characteristics of our qualitative research design and their potential contribution to mobility innovation strategy. Firstly, our research aims prioritised place and lived experience with specific focus on eliciting i.) ideation about e-cargo bike use (before use); use experiences during a 4 week period; reflections and intentions regarding future mode use (end of trial). Secondly, recruitment processes and interviews were configured as occasions for ideating, reflecting on and practically engaging with e-cargo bike use as well as occasions for collecting data. Thirdly, interviewers purposefully acted as enablers of the trial experience, supporting participants to articulate, negotiate and where possible overcome personal, social, infrastructural, technical/mechanical and digital challenges. Our empirical findings demonstrate how this reflexive capability building approach to qualitative data collection generated opportunities for engaged pragmatist mobility innovation that when combined with a place-based approach, has potential to inform how we 'make and do' low-carbon mobility strategy.