Mobility

Mobility refers to the ability of people to move from one location to another. Throughout most of human history, the mobility of people remained essentially unchanged. Yet within modern societies, the mobility of people has changed quite dramatically over the years, creating a host of opportunities and problems. Researchers in diverse disciplines must be aware of the effects of mobility because it affects the structure and distribution of contemporary civilization.

In large part, the changing nature of mobility is linked closely with the changing nature of transportation systems. Throughout the early stages of human history, the means of human mobility was limited to walking. This meant that mobility was constrained by the limitations of human endurance. With the advent of domestication and certain technological developments (e.g., harnesses), the use of animal power became a means of increasing the mobility of individuals. Thus, the scope of activity was enlarged because horses and other animals have greater physical endurance than do humans. By the beginning of the 20th century, the mobility of individuals was transformed once again by the invention of the automobile (the “horseless carriage”). In addition to these developments, railroads, shipping lines, and airplanes have expanded the geographic scope of personal mobility, potentially allowing individuals to become global citizens.

The effects of such mobility are substantial and can be seen at many spatial scales. From a cultural perspective, the issue of mobility is important because it can greatly affect the perspectives and worldviews of people living in particular locations. When mobility was constrained by the limits of human or animal power, many societies remained largely insular and “local.” With the increase in mobility, however, interactions among distant regions became more common, thereby serving as the context for the exchange of information, ideas, and material items. In this way, cosmopolitan influences began to influence previously isolated localities and regions. Although it was an anomaly of its time, the Silk Road was an early example of this phenomenon. Years later, the age of shipbuilding and exploration continued this process in new venues. More recently, the age of jet travel, tourism, and consumerism has created an entirely new set of international dynamics.

A quick comparison of cities indicates the influence of changing mobility on the internal structure of human settlements. For instance, many of the European cities that emerged during the Middle Ages have a dense pattern of development that was suited to foot traffic and animal transportation. Similarly, older cities on the East Coast of the United States frequently were designed with a linear, gridlike street pattern to facilitate pedestrian traffic. Conversely, cities that emerged after the invention and diffusion of the automobile (e.g., cities in the southwestern United States such as Phoenix and Los Angeles) often have a different pattern of development. Typically, these cities extend over larger areas and are less densely populated. Perhaps the best examples of this phenomenon are modern suburbs that usually contain cul-de-sacs and other curvilinear street patterns that diverge considerably from older grid systems.

The issue of mobility is also closely associated with accessibility. Mobility is the means by which places become accessible. Accessibility has become increasingly important for many reasons. In the past, many individuals lived comparatively isolated lives. Farmers, for instance, could provide for most of their[Page 304] own needs. Similarly, artisans and craftsmen often produced their artifacts in the space of their own homes. In each of these cases, the workplace and the living space were one and the same. With the emergence of modern capitalism and commodity exchange, the workplace and home became separate realms, thereby increasing the importance of personal mobility. In the current social context, modern lifestyles are highly interdependent on many places and many resources. Thus, to maintain a certain lifestyle, mobility and accessibility are critical issues to be addressed. This potentially includes access to the workplace, the marketplace, educational facilities, healthcare facilities, and governmental agencies. All of these resources are needed to maintain individuals and a viable population.

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