ABSTRACT
Mobility is a social and economic need. The availability of transport options, and the way they are delivered, can present major challenges to the mobility of many residents in today's cities. Investments in urban transport infrastructure do little to alleviate the mobility difficulties of the urban poor or other vulnerable and disadvantaged groups if the services provided are unaffordable or physically inaccessible. Such barriers contribute to socio-spatial inequities in urban areas, including discrimination against vulnerable and disadvantaged groups. These barriers are not only fiscal or technical in nature, but arise from political, social and institutional factors that prevent progress towards socially sustainable urban mobility systems. Thus, this chapter focuses on the aspects of urban mobility that relate to providing affordable access to opportunities, minimizing social exclusion and improving the quality of life for all.
