Local citizen assemblies to overcome resistance to the mobility transition? Analyzing discourses in a municipality in rural Germany

Policy changes in the mobility transition will only be possible with sufficient public support for shifting mobility cultures and the necessary lifestyle changes. In order to actively involve citizens in the envisioning and design of transport policy, deliberative formats such as local citizen assemblies are considered a promising tool. The article discusses the results of a deliberation and envisioning process for sustainable mobility in a rural municipality in Germany. Whereas the citizen assembly crafted an overall positive vision of a local mobility transition emphasizing co-benefits such as improved public spaces, the deliberative process was marked by discourses delaying concrete action that allows achieving that vision at the same time. Specifically, discourses framing mode choice as an individual responsibility or the pursuit of a perfect alternative to private car use emerged as significant barriers to discussing sustainable mobility as a local issue. This suggests that public discourses of delaying climate action manifest in local debates and are referenced by citizens to criticize proposed changes to the mobility system. Thus, disentangling popular discourses of delaying policy action from local concerns about the feasibility of such changes is a key task for meaningful citizen involvement in the mobility transition. Participants demonstrated strong interest in engaging with the topic and were proud to have their perspectives considered. These findings highlight the ambivalence participants experience in regard to the mobility transition and suggest that participatory processes can play a crucial role in enabling discussions on context-specific challenges as well as possible mobility solutions.