‘Terror’ versus ‘the future’ on two wheels: a comparative discourse analysis on micromobility in Belgium | Ward Van Hemeledonck (PhD Researcher, VUB Cosmopolis)
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Micromobility is often presented as an emblematic form of sustainable mobility. E-bikes, speed pedelecs and e-scooters are among the most popular forms of electric micromobility in Flanders and Brussels and are promoted as alternatives to car travel, particularly for short-distance trips in (sub)urban environments. However, their adoption remains uneven and their acceptance is often contested. Beyond their specific technical characteristics, micromobility is the subject of social and political debates concerning safety, public space, accessibility and legitimacy.
Drawing on critical discourse analysis, this presentation explores how these three forms of electric micromobility are represented in the Dutch-language newspaper press in Belgium. Building on insights from mobilities studies and framing theory, I discuss how some modes become associated with ideas of sustainability, health and progress, and others are linked to risk, nuisance and social disorder.
The Belgian case is a peculiar one. Over the past decades, cycling has become an increasingly mainstream practice, underpinned by investments in infrastructure, commuter allowances and bicycle culture. At the same time, emerging forms of electric micromobility, although being fairly accessible, spark controversies. These media discourses influence which mobility imaginaries are considered desirable, legitimate and worthy of policy support and which aren’t. By comparing the discourse on electric micromobility, this case study sheds light on questions of legitimacy, mobility justice, moral panic and stigmatisation
Ward Van Hemeledonck is a PhD researcher and teaching assistant at Cosmopolis Centre for Urban Research (VUB). Drawing on mobility justice frameworks, his research examines the increasing use of electric micromobility and its implications for social inclusion and accessibility. His current work focuses on the adoption, societal perception, regulation and policy regarding e-scooters in Belgium.