Towards a Two-tier Mobility?

Urban sprawl and new movement dynamics, between distant places of life and work, make the issue of mobility a crucial one today. At the same time, inequalities in geographical mobility mirror social polarization, with highly connected metropolitan areas where  a majority of inhabitants are integrated, and on the other, rural areas where the quality of networks is lower and where people sometimes feel a sense of exclusion. The implications regarding employment and purchasing power reinforce this link between social and geographical mobilities.

The New Industrial Revolution caused by digital technology, which accelerates with 5G and artificial intelligence, accentuates the concentration of talent, production forces and financing facilities in cities with good governance.

The fight against this two-fold fracture, both geographical and social, raises several questions. Does the quality of geographical mobility determine the success of social mobility? Should our reflection focus on our mobility modes? About our work organisation (location, telework, etc.)? About our urbanization modes (urban concentration, transportation, etc.)?

The environmental issue adds to the complexity of decisions in this area. At first sight, the two objectives seem contradictory: the most polluting modes of transportation (cars, planes) are now central to the mobility of many people. What credible alternative do we have? Will technical innovation provide the solution?