Speaker
Description
Despite the availability of alternatives to car mobility, the Brussels metropolitan area is one of the most congested in Europe every working day. This presentation uses the sociological theory of practices to examine car commuting to the Brussels Region, and whether and how it changes. Alongside various statistical data, data for this research was collected through two dozen in-depth interviews conducted with commuters, namely beneficiaries from company cars, in 2022 and 2023. According to the theory of practices, a change in practice can occur through the modification of one or more of the four components of a resource-intensive practice (rules, material arrangements, mental and practical routines, and teleo-affective structures), through a modal shift, or through a change in the interlocking of two or more practices. Based on the interviews and statistical data, these three processes of change, or intervention framings, are compared for commuting to Brussels by private car or company car. The results indicate that several phenomena have emerged as potential levers for change, including the pragmatic versatility of certain commuters (particularly women and young people), adjustments to the tax regime for company cars, the new habit of working from home and the reduced efficiency due to congestion.
| If your abstract is not accepted for an oral presentation, would you be interested in presenting it as a poster instead? | No |
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| If accepted by the Scientific Board, I agree to have my presentation/poster and abstract published on the Belgian Climate Centre websites and social media. | Yes |
