Abstract
ABSTRACT
Urban mobility has a significant impact on carbon (CO2) emissions and environmental quality and therefore, sustainable transportation plays a critical role in mitigating climate change effects. This master’s thesis investigates the pronounced public transportation gaps in accessibility affecting the peripheries of Sola, Sandnes, and Stavanger cities in Rogaland, Norway. The thesis dedicates its focus to the areas of Hålandsmarka and Tjelta in Sola, Hommersåk in Sandnes, and Friheim in Stavanger. The thesis has obtained the knowledge required to address the main research question:
How does transportation availability affect the daily lives and mobility patterns of residents on the urban outskirts?
These areas encounter significant challenges in accessing efficient public transportation, resulting in heavy reliance on private car usage. For this reason, the thesis aims to fill the knowledge gap regarding the disparities in public and shared transportation options in these urban outskirts. This thesis follows a mixed-method approach incorporating desk study, document reviews, non-participant observation, expert interviews, and resident experience surveys. These methods permit a nuanced exploration of the current transportation system within Rogaland.
Findings from the document reviews and expert interviews both indicate a need for coordinated financial and political support. Findings from the observations reveal that the physical landscape of the outskirts is more residential. Residents mostly use cars whilst the public transportation services are limited. The residents' experience survey was employed to gather the perspectives and experiences of residents in these locations, uncovering disparities in transport service availability between the city core and its outskirts. Findings from the survey also depict a car-centric lifestyle with limited and unavailable access to public transport services. The findings indicate several motivators and obstacles to public transportation accessibility in the urban outskirts. Drawing upon the Actor-Network Theory (ANT), this thesis adds more depth to sustainable transportation transitions by exploring the interactions between human and non-human actors influencing the transportation systems in the urban outskirts.
The thesis demonstrates the need to further integrate land-use and transport system development. The findings and policy recommendations of this research have practical implications for policymakers, transportation authorities, and urban planners in designing and implementing effective strategies to reduce private car ownership and promote equitable and environmentally friendly mobility options
