ABSTRACT
This chapter examines mobility in the context of the political economy of transport and urban development. In the sustainable transport debate, government policy and the transport profession is largely in tune with wanting to pursue a convivial transport system, but the realpolitik is that it does not command universal support among the public, local politicians and other interests who feel threatened by the policy, or see it as a 'wedge issue' that will open the door to more demands for further 'green transport' actions. Transport policy studies have a rich history of investigating decision-making processes, borrowing theories and methods from political science to examine how power is exercised and by whom. The Scottish Government has consistently defended its transport policies as being necessary to improve Scotland's economy and has not felt obliged to justify its policies to transport or environmental campaigners north of the border.
