This new chair is aimed at strengthening the social-scientific perspective on mobility innovations. Its focus will be on questions such as if and how such innovations can contribute to the human scale of our cities, how our societies function and the quality of our public spaces. Which futures are made (im)possible and what effects are (not) discussed? 

Marco te Brömmelstroet conducts research into the mutual relationships between bicycles, societies and cities. Bicycles, especially in the Netherlands, offer a ubiquitous lens for carrying out research into the way mobility is shaped and how it affects the people who use it. By looking at how mobility innovations are presented, Te Brömmelstroet uses his research to unravel the concepts and valuesthat underlie this process.

Strengthening mobility innovations

As professor, Te Brömmelstroet will make a constructively critical contribution to projects and societal debates around themes such as smart cities, mobility as a service, cycling innovations and self-driving vehicles. The collaboration with BAM Infra ensures a direct, reciprocal relationship between fundamental research and large-scale projects in the urban-and mobility system, both in the Netherlands and internationally. The chair, which will be embedded in the UvA’s multidisciplinary Centre for Urban Studies, will immediately carry out several projects on the social costs and benefits of fast bike routes, the resilience of innovations in the mobility system and the role of partial mobility in new, highly urban development. 

Next to its research line, the chair will also strengthen the educational profile of the UvA, particularly the Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes Social Geography, Urban Planning and Urban Studies. Recent innovations, such as the Summer School ‘Planning the Cycling City’ and the Massive Open Online Course ‘Unraveling the Cycling City’ will be further developed. The ambition is to develop transdisciplinary teaching modules around future urban development that connects academic and practical knowledge development.

About Marco te Brömmelstroet

Since 2009, Marco te Brömmelstroet has been affliated with the UvA as associate professor of Urban Planning. He is the founder and scientific director of the Urban Cycling Institute, which forms part of the Centre for Urban Studies. The institute carries out research on the reciprocal relationships between bikes, society and cities, and is actively involved in sharing the Dutch expertise and knowledge about the use of bicycles.

Te Brömmelstroet is involved in several European projects which aim share Dutch bike knowledge.