The Social Costs of Automobility

Abstract

<P> The automobile is truly the most dominant mode of transport in Canada; a car is used by nearly 75% of the Canadian adult population each day. Under the auspices of sustainable development and practices, the impacts of automobile driving and its associated land-uses need be investigated using a triple bottom-line approach. This necessitates an understanding of the associated economic, environmental and social costs. Whereas much research attention has been drawn to external economic and environmental costs, the quantification of social costs, especially those related to social interaction and activity participation, has been far less studied. Despite calls from sociologists warning of the role of automobility in diminishing levels of social interaction, community cohesion, and social inclusion, there has been no response from the research community in the form of empirical investigation. The three studies comprising this dissertation seek to rectify the current state of neglect and fill this gap. </p> <P> The modelling efforts in this dissertation lead to the discovery of a complex, nonlinear, and heterogeneous relationship between automobile use and social participation. For many individuals, particularly those who are not traditionally constrained by mobility and time limitations, automobile use is found to limit the likelihood of participation in a slew of social, discretionary, and outof-home activities. Moreover, non-drivers who still participate in a spatiallydispersed lifestyle designed for automobility are at risk of exclusion from various forms of activities. </p> <P> The research findings make significant contributions to the study of automobility, the measurement ofsocially sustainability transportation systems, and the role of transport in social exclusion. The findings also have broader implications for cities in terms of creating competitive social environments in a highly mobile and well-informed labour market, fostering equity between social groups, and promoting the participation in activities with positive social outcomes. </p>