The governance of emerging mobility technologies in Finland: A Q-methodology study

Abstract

The recent emergence of numerous smart mobility technologies has raised difficult questions concerning the integration of transport and technology governance. To avoid undesirable sociotechnical trajectories and fill the institutional void that emerging technologies typically face, it is crucial to understand relevant actors' views – to explore the reasons for conflict and find common ground for structuring comprehensive and inclusive deliberation. We applied the Q-methodology to identify and analyse different viewpoints concerning the governance of emerging mobility technologies in Finland. A comprehensive sample of 84 people involved in the development and governance of Mobility-as-a-Service, transport automation and shared e-scooter services in Finland participated in the study. The analysis revealed three viewpoints of major interest. “The Cautious Innovators” prioritise risk aversion over the quick implementation of technologies. “The Enablers” view the development of mobility technologies as an international race and wish to maintain Finland's forerunner position. “The Disappointed Optimists” share the desire for the rapid implementation of new mobility technologies but express severe disappointment about how these technologies are currently governed in Finland. Based on the findings, we highlight challenges with the current governance approach and suggest improvements concerning participatory practices and actor roles. Finally, we lay out directions for future research, which should pay attention to the nuances of actor-level interactions and power relations across dynamic governance networks by utilising a broader base of social science concepts and methods.