ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the meaning of transport and mobility as both popular and academic terms. It describes the key relationships that we see as critical for an understanding of contemporary mobility; that is between what is manifested as individual travel behaviour, the social construction of mobility and its manifestation as social practice, and the surrounding infrastructures and technologies in which we live and work. The chapter argues that transport and mobility need to be viewed as dynamic and developing concepts, which are implicated in broader socio-political and economic processes and which are likely to change to reflect these processes. It also presents the structure of the book. The book explores the rapid expansion of cities and towns through the lens of rapidly changing transport technologies. It outlines the factors that led to initial suburban growth and then the rapid expansion of such suburbs through the widespread ownership of private motor transport.
