Instrumentalization in the Public Smart Bikeshare Sector
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Instrumentalization in the Public Smart Bikeshare Sector Robert Bradshaw (13251567) Thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the PhD degree, Department of Geography, Faculty of Social Sciences, Maynooth University. Submitted: August 2018 Head of Department: Professor Gerry Kearns First Supervisor: Professor Rob Kitchin, Maynooth University Second Supervisor: Dr Leighton Evans, Swansea University [1] Declaration I declare that the work described in this dissertation is, except where otherwise stated, entirely my own work, and has not been submitted as an exercise for a degree at this or any other university. I further declare that this research has been carried out in full compliance with the ethical research requirements of Maynooth University. Signed: _________________________ Robert Bradshaw August 2018 [2] Permission to lend and/or copy I agree that Maynooth University may lend or copy this dissertation upon request. Signed: _________________________ Robert Bradshaw August 2018 [3] Contents Declaration ...................................................................................................... 2 Permission to lend and/or copy...................................................................... 3 Acknowledgements ......................................................................................... 7 List of Figures and Tables .............................................................................. 8 Abstract............................................................................................................ 9 Chapter 1 - Introduction .............................................................................. 10 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 10 1.1 Positioning the research with the Philosophy of Technology Tradition: ......... 12 1.2 Research Question and Contribution to Research .......................................... 15 1.3 Thesis Structure ............................................................................................... 17 Chapter 2 - Theoretical Perspectives ......................................................... 21 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 21 2.1 The Politics of the Smart City Imaginary .......................................................... 22 2.2 Neoliberalism, Governance and Technology ................................................... 24 2.3 Mapping Critical Theory of Technology: .......................................................... 29 2.4 Democratic Interventions and Recontextualization Strategies ....................... 36 Chapter 3 - Smart Bikeshare ....................................................................... 44 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 44 3.1 Bike Sharing: An Overview ............................................................................... 45 3.2 Smart Bike Share and Smart City Narratives ................................................... 53 3.3 Smart Bikeshare and Social Justice .................................................................. 55 3.4 Equity and Community Focused Solutions ...................................................... 58 3.5 Conclusion ....................................................................................................... 62 Chapter 4 - Methodology ............................................................................. 64 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 64 4.1 The Critical Paradigm ....................................................................................... 65 4.2 Case Study as a Research Strategy .................................................................. 68 4.3 Conceptual Framework Supporting the Case Studies ..................................... 69 4.4 Choosing the Case Studies ............................................................................... 74 [4] 4.5 Data Collection................................................................................................. 76 4.6 Data Analysis .................................................................................................... 81 4.7 Lessons Learned ............................................................................................... 88 4.8 Summary .......................................................................................................... 88 Chapter 5 - Dublinbikes ............................................................................... 90 Introduction ........................................................................................................... 90 5.1 Entrepreneurial Governance as a Prelude to Dublinbikes .............................. 91 5.2 Pre-implementation: From Outdoor Advertising to Bikeshare ....................... 94 5.3 Implementation: Strategic Manipulation and Failed Contestation ................. 99 5.4 Distribution Bias and Socio-Economic Inequalities ....................................... 104 5.5 Value Proposition and Capital Distribution ................................................... 107 5.6 System Expansion: Technological Lock-in and Continued Exclusion ............. 108 5.7 System Configuration, Innovation and Social Value ...................................... 111 5.8 Summary ........................................................................................................ 119 Chapter 6 - SobiHamilton .......................................................................... 121 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 122 6.1 Contexts and Challenges ................................................................................ 122 6.2 From Advocacy to Bikeshare ......................................................................... 126 6.3 Social Bicycles (SoBi): Designing for Equity ................................................... 130 6.4 Remediating Strategies and Democratic Interventions ................................. 132 6.5 Iterative Innovation and Concretization ........................................................ 139 6.6 Summary ........................................................................................................ 144 Chapter 7 - Analysis ................................................................................... 146 Introduction ......................................................................................................... 146 7.1 Dublinbikes: Subjectivication ......................................................................... 147 7.2 Dublinbikes: Objectivication .......................................................................... 152 7.3 SobiHamilton: Subjectivication ...................................................................... 155 7.4 SobiHamilton: Objectivication ....................................................................... 157 7.5 Cross Case Analysis ........................................................................................ 159 7.6 Conclusion ..................................................................................................... 166 Chapter 8 - Conclusions ............................................................................. 169 [5] Introduction ......................................................................................................... 169 8.1 Design Implications ........................................................................................ 170 8.2 Policy Implications ......................................................................................... 174 8.3 Implications for Theory .................................................................................. 178 8.4 Opportunities for Further Research .............................................................. 182 8.5 Concluding Remarks ...................................................................................... 184 References .................................................................................................... 185 Appendix 1: An Taisce Report on Advertising ........................................ 221 Appendix 2: System Interoperability ........................................................ 229 Appendix 3: System Components of Both Schemes ................................ 232 Appendix 4: Ethics Application ................................................................. 236 Appendix 5: Information Sheet and Consent Form ................................ 246 [6] Acknowledgements I would like to thank my supervisors, Rob Kitchin and Leighton Evans, for their understanding, guidance and patience throughout the entirety of this research process. I have learned an enormous amount under their stewardship and I will be forever grateful for their support. I would also like to thank the other members of the programmable city project team, many of whom I worked with closely over a long period of time. I will remember with fondness their friendship, camaraderie and willingness to engage. A major debt of gratitude is also due to those people who supported this research by their participation in the interview process. The project would not have been possible without the knowledge and insights they contributed. They were selfless