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Social exclusion and transport in the UK: A role for virtual accessibility in the alleviation of mobility-related social exclusion?

Kenyon, Susan, Rafferty, Jackie, Lyons, Glenn (2003) Social exclusion and transport in the UK: A role for virtual accessibility in the alleviation of mobility-related social exclusion? Journal of Social Policy, 32 (3). pp. 317-338. ISSN 0047-2794. (doi:10.1017/S0047279403007037) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:5203)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
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Abstract

This paper reports findings from research into the possibility that mobility-related social exclusion could be affected by an increase in access to virtual mobility - access to opportunities, services and social networks, via the Internet - amongst populations that experience exclusion. Transport is starting to be recognised as a key component of social policy, particularly in light of a number of recent studies, which have highlighted the link between transport and social exclusion, suggesting that low access to mobility can reduce the opportunity to participate in society - a finding with which this research concurs. Following the identification of this causal link, the majority of studies suggest that an increase in access to adequate physical mobility can provide a viable solution to mobility-related aspects of social exclusion. This paper questions the likelihood that increased physical mobility can, by itself, provide a fully viable or sustainable solution to mobility-related aspects of social exclusion. Findings from both a desk study and public consultation suggest that virtual mobility is already fulfilling an accessibility role, both substituting for and supplementing physical mobility, working to alleviate some aspects of mobility-related social exclusion in some sectors of society. The paper incorporates an analysis of the barriers to and problems with an increase in virtual mobility in society, and concludes that virtual mobility could be a valuable tool in both social and transport policy.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1017/S0047279403007037
Subjects: H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
H Social Sciences > HM Sociology
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research > Centre for Health Services Studies
Depositing User: Helen Wooldridge
Date Deposited: 05 Sep 2008 16:19 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 09:43 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/5203 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Kenyon, Susan.

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