The Case against Toxic Mobility

Abstract While traveling in a city is often not a cause for concern, examining outcomes in many instances over lengthy durations suggests otherwise. In reality, the driving conditions in numerous cities are toxic. Yet, there is more to this claim than a mere emotive response to traffic. This article’s purpose is to flesh out this position, revealing the conditions required for this claim to hold significance. In the course of its unpacking, the author examines the term’s usage to identify a pattern, a “received view,” which considers human-to-human relationships and human-technology relations. In turn, it exhibits what toxic mobility looks like in different scenarios, which provides insights into harmful human-machine relations. After establishing this outlook, the attention is focused on the requirements for removing toxicity from mobility systems.