Moving past sustainable transport studies: Towards a critical perspective on urban transport

This article introduces a virtual special issue that carries the same title. We open our editorial by observing contemporary transport debate continues to find strong inspiration in notion of “sustainable” development, which strongly resonates among academics and practitioners alike. While placing important environmental issues on agenda, sustainable approaches urban exhibit number serious limitations, as, as it has insufficiently engaged with diverse social, political economic dynamics shape how is planned, regulated, organised, practiced contested contexts. To respond this gap, we propose develop an emerging “critical” perspective transport, considers be socially constructed contested, underpinned structural power dynamics, class relations, gender patriarchy, ethnicity race. Building critical theory, argue being about involves approaching phenomenon reproduces complex social spatial processes, acts crucial component capitalism. On one hand, means analysing policy, practice infrastructure through lens capitalist observed particular other, entails exploring complexity institutions interests make up city its transport. research mobility may rise, still constitutes rather marginal area. Therefore, objective advance agenda research. The contributions offer avenues for thinking critically part parcel Our authors discuss theoretical methodological frameworks studying empirical analyses specific policies practices, inquiring into their socio-spatial impact, political-economic embeddedness relations regulatory they are shaped. What emerges from anthology there no singular or universal way Unravelling ideology reproduced settings exercise hinges focuses group factor. As endavour far complete, outline several directions further Notably, suggest diversify spaces scales analysis long-distance travel, objects freight logistics. also note future could consider diversifying theories epistemologies perceived, contribute decolonial turn studies.