Joanna Laast
Title: TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE MOBILITY IN TALLINN: VIEWS AND EXPERIENCES OF YOUNG CONSUMERS REGARDING SHARED MOBILITY SERVICES
Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Erkki Karo
Opponent: Dr. Jaanus Müür
Defense: 3 June 2024
Abstract: The current transportation system is causing various problems, such as congestion, climate change, and pollution. Hence, there is a need to make mobility more sustainable. Shared mobility services are seen as a solution, as they have been found to, for example, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and private car usage. This thesis aims to explore the sustainability potential of these services in Tallinn by studying how consumers interpret their experiences regarding shared mobility services. Therefore, the usage, impact, and future potential of car-sharing and shared micromobility are studied with a focus on the views and experiences of young consumers. For that, 14 semistructured interviews were conducted with young consumers who had used theseservices in Tallinn. The gathered data was analysed using thematic analysis. The findings suggest that shared mobility has the potential to make mobility in Tallinn more sustainable. The analysis shows that young consumers use shared mobility because the services help them make sustainable choices. Additionally, the study demonstrates that using shared mobility services impacts the mobility of young consumers, and some of those changes steer mobility in a more sustainable direction, such as reduced private car usage. The analysis also reveals the aspects that need to be improved to increase the sustainability potential of shared mobility in Tallinn, including micromobility infrastructure and shared vehicle availability in car-dependent areas.
Keywords: sustainability transitions, sustainable mobility, shared mobility services, car-sharing, shared micromobility
