Mixed-method approach to facilitate the mobility transition in a dense urban neighborhood: A case study from Munich

Increasing car ownership over the last decades has led to a significant portion of public space in cities being allocated to cars. As a consequence, there is a strong competition for the use of public space, especially in dense urban neighborhoods with few private parking spaces. While many residents and experts advocate for a reduction of car dominance to make place for climate-friendly mobility, improve the quality of life, and mitigate the effects of climate change, car owners often specifically oppose the repurposing of on-street parking spaces, as they fear an aggravation of the already high parking pressure. To identify measures that could increase the acceptance of a reduction in on-street parking spaces, we applied an empirical three-stage mixed-method approach as accompanying research for a participatory mobility transition project in Munich’s Dreimühlen quarter. The approach consisted of a longitudinal parking study, a travel behavior survey and a qualitative group discussion. Our results highlight the value of combining quantitative, qualitative, and participatory methods for identifying potentials and appropriate measures for the mobility transition in urban neighborhoods. ... mehrFurthermore, we found that integrating our approach into a mobility transition project can enhance public acceptance of planned transformations.