Noel Cass
Biographic Data
| ID | 5225841 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Noel Cass |
| GIVEN NAMES | Noel |
| FAMILY NAME | Cass |
| SIGNATURE | CASS N |
| AFFILIATIONS | Lancaster University |
| ORCID | 0000-0003-2652-1931 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 17 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 138 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 17 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2005 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 5 |
How do electric cargo bikes fit with real life? A social practice analysis in the United Kingdom
Cycling an e-cargo bike offers key advantages of both car and bike use, and its potential to substitute many car trips offers energy demand reduction benefits. Fulfilling this potential depends on its being routinised in households' lives as a mobility practice. This paper applies social practice theory to interview data from 49 household trials of e-cargo bike use in suburbs of three cities in the United Kingdom to explore what domestic e-cargo …
Between or Beyond Bicycles and Cars? Navigating E-Cargo Bike Citizenship in the Transition to Sustainable Urban Mobility
Domestic Use of E-Cargo Bikes and Other E-Micromobility: Protocol for a Multi-Centre, Mixed Methods Study
Physical inactivity is a leading risk factor for non-communicable diseases. Climate change is now regarded as the biggest threat to global public health. Electric micromobility (e-micromobility, including e-bikes, e-cargo bikes, and e-scooters) has the potential to simultaneously increase people's overall physical activity while decreasing greenhouse gas emissions where it substitutes for motorised transport. The ELEVATE study aims to understand …
E-bike use and ownership in the Lake District National-Park UK
E-bike use in rural and tourist areas is under-researched and has potential to replace car journeys reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other impacts of car use. We studied the rural use of e-bikes in a tourist area (the Lake District National Park, UK) through Covid-19. Mixed methods were used; two waves (2020 & 2021) of a semi-panel quantitative survey; including open responses; supplemented by self-study field trips. Key findings include hig…
How are high-carbon lifestyles justified? Exploring the discursive strategies of excess energy consumers in the United Kingdom
The literature on climate action highlights the importance of individual and household behaviour change to achieve energy demand reduction and climate targets. However, behaviour change remains slow. The literature has highlighted numerous structural and individual barriers to behaviour change, but how high-energy consumers themselves justify the continuation of their behaviours remains poorly understood. This paper addresses this question by pro…
Hyper-aeromobility: The drivers and dynamics of frequent flying
Flying is the most climate-impacting form of individual consumption. This article interrogates the drivers and dynamics behind ever-increasing amounts of air travel ascribable to a minority, whose flying contributes an ever-larger proportion of travel-related energy consumption and carbon emissions. Moving beyond established work on (increases in) flying, it establishes the need to focus transport emissions reduction efforts on this relatively sm…
Participatory Design as the Temporal Flow of Coalescing Participatory Lines
This paper argues that the existing literature on participatory design (PD) tends to focus on frontstage design interactions (workshops, participants, methodologies, techniques, etc.) to facilitate PD ‘here and now’—referred to as the interactional approach . In contrast, the paper proposes to contribute to an evolving literature, referred to as the transformational approach , that takes a more longitudinal line and which attends to both the fron…
The autonomobility system
In this chapter, the authors analyze automobility, the hegemonic mobility system, and suggest an alternative imaginary they call 'autonomobility'. They offer historical, scenario-based, fictional and existing glimpses of autonomobility to suggest it is a viable model of pegging the pursuit of individual flourishing within environmental limits and distributional equity, using socialized and collectivized forms of co-movement as a vision to animate…
How market standards affect building design: The case of low energy design in commercial offices
This paper develops existing work on building design through a focus on one important yet understudied form of regulation: market standards. Market standards are agreed upon definitions of ‘necessary’ provision in buildings and are fundamental in ‘formatting’ markets and determining the value of a building in the market. The paper presents a case study of the design of 10 commercial offices in London, UK, the effects of market standards on the de…
Satisfying Everyday Mobility
This paper engages with theoretical insights into understanding everyday travel (from the mobility turn and theories of social practice) in an analysis of everyday mobility using data from ethnographic research. The analysis of mobile performances draws attention to how travellers incorporate valued dispersed practices into mobility. We argue that incorporating such contingent practices into travel generates affective satisfactions consistently s…
Commuting practices: New insights into modal shift from theories of social practice
The automobile commute makes an important contribution to carbon emissions but has proven stubbornly resistant to modal shift policy initiatives. In this paper we use theories of social practice to develop insights into why this stubbornness might exist, and what might help accelerate transitions to bus- and cycle-commuting. By analyzing qualitative data about everyday mobility in two UK cities, we examine how the availability of the constituent …
Good Neighbours, Public Relations and Bribes: The Politics and Perceptions of Community Benefit Provision in Renewable Energy Development in the UK
The provision of community benefits has become a more common component of renewable energy project proposals in the UK. This raises questions as to the purposes these benefits are fulfilling and the ways in which they are perceived by the many different stakeholders involved in the processes of project development and approval. Are they seen as an effective strategic element in negotiations around planning consent; as a right for communities whos…
Imagined publics and engagement around renewable energy technologies in the UK
Against the backdrop of the imperatives for actors within the institutional framework of energy socio-technical systems to engage with the public, the aim of this paper is to consider interdependencies between the principles and practice of engagement and the nature of the imagined publics with whom engagement is being undertaken. Based on an analysis of 19 interviews with actors in the renewable energy industry, the paper explores how publics ar…
Renewable Energy and Sociotechnical Change: Imagined Subjectivities of ‘the Public’ and Their Implications
The public’ are potentially implicated in processes of sociotechnical change as political actors who welcome or resist technology development in general, or in particular places and settings. We argue in this paper that the potential influence of public subjectivities on sociotechnical change is realised not only through moments of active participation and protest, but also through ‘the public’ being imagined, given agency, and invoked for variou…
Emotion and rationality: The characterisation and evaluation of opposition to renewable energy projects
Carbon reduction, ‘the public’ and renewable energy: Engaging with socio‐technical configurations
In the context of challenging targets for renewable energy generation, this paper draws out social implications of moves towards low carbon energy systems. As renewable energy develops as a heterogeneous category, many potential forms of social relation between ‘publics’ and technologies are emerging. Utilising perspectives from science and technology studies, we outline five modes in which renewable energy has been implemented in the UK and how …
Social Exclusion, Mobility and Access
Much of the literature on social exclusion ignores its 'spatial' or 'mobility' related aspects. This paper seeks to rectify this by examining the mobile processes and infrastructures of travel and transport that engender and reinforce social exclusion in contemporary societies. To the extent to which this issue is addressed, it is mainly organized around the notion of 'access' to activities, values and goods. This paper examines this discourse in…
Social Exclusion, Mobility and Access
Much of the literature on social exclusion ignores its 'spatial' or 'mobility' related aspects. This paper seeks to rectify this by examining the mobile processes and infrastructures of travel and transport that engender and reinforce social exclusion in contemporary societies. To the extent to which this issue is addressed, it is mainly organized around the notion of 'access' to activities, values and goods. This paper examines this discourse in…
Carbon reduction, ‘the public’ and renewable energy: Engaging with socio‐technical configurations
In the context of challenging targets for renewable energy generation, this paper draws out social implications of moves towards low carbon energy systems. As renewable energy develops as a heterogeneous category, many potential forms of social relation between ‘publics’ and technologies are emerging. Utilising perspectives from science and technology studies, we outline five modes in which renewable energy has been implemented in the UK and how …
Satisfying Everyday Mobility
This paper engages with theoretical insights into understanding everyday travel (from the mobility turn and theories of social practice) in an analysis of everyday mobility using data from ethnographic research. The analysis of mobile performances draws attention to how travellers incorporate valued dispersed practices into mobility. We argue that incorporating such contingent practices into travel generates affective satisfactions consistently s…
Renewable Energy and Sociotechnical Change: Imagined Subjectivities of ‘the Public’ and Their Implications
The public’ are potentially implicated in processes of sociotechnical change as political actors who welcome or resist technology development in general, or in particular places and settings. We argue in this paper that the potential influence of public subjectivities on sociotechnical change is realised not only through moments of active participation and protest, but also through ‘the public’ being imagined, given agency, and invoked for variou…
How are high-carbon lifestyles justified? Exploring the discursive strategies of excess energy consumers in the United Kingdom
The literature on climate action highlights the importance of individual and household behaviour change to achieve energy demand reduction and climate targets. However, behaviour change remains slow. The literature has highlighted numerous structural and individual barriers to behaviour change, but how high-energy consumers themselves justify the continuation of their behaviours remains poorly understood. This paper addresses this question by pro…
E-bike use and ownership in the Lake District National-Park UK
E-bike use in rural and tourist areas is under-researched and has potential to replace car journeys reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other impacts of car use. We studied the rural use of e-bikes in a tourist area (the Lake District National Park, UK) through Covid-19. Mixed methods were used; two waves (2020 & 2021) of a semi-panel quantitative survey; including open responses; supplemented by self-study field trips. Key findings include hig…
How market standards affect building design: The case of low energy design in commercial offices
This paper develops existing work on building design through a focus on one important yet understudied form of regulation: market standards. Market standards are agreed upon definitions of ‘necessary’ provision in buildings and are fundamental in ‘formatting’ markets and determining the value of a building in the market. The paper presents a case study of the design of 10 commercial offices in London, UK, the effects of market standards on the de…
How do electric cargo bikes fit with real life? A social practice analysis in the United Kingdom
Cycling an e-cargo bike offers key advantages of both car and bike use, and its potential to substitute many car trips offers energy demand reduction benefits. Fulfilling this potential depends on its being routinised in households' lives as a mobility practice. This paper applies social practice theory to interview data from 49 household trials of e-cargo bike use in suburbs of three cities in the United Kingdom to explore what domestic e-cargo …
Between or Beyond Bicycles and Cars? Navigating E-Cargo Bike Citizenship in the Transition to Sustainable Urban Mobility
Social Exclusion, Mobility and Access
Much of the literature on social exclusion ignores its 'spatial' or 'mobility' related aspects. This paper seeks to rectify this by examining the mobile processes and infrastructures of travel and transport that engender and reinforce social exclusion in contemporary societies. To the extent to which this issue is addressed, it is mainly organized around the notion of 'access' to activities, values and goods. This paper examines this discourse in…
Carbon reduction, ‘the public’ and renewable energy: Engaging with socio‐technical configurations
In the context of challenging targets for renewable energy generation, this paper draws out social implications of moves towards low carbon energy systems. As renewable energy develops as a heterogeneous category, many potential forms of social relation between ‘publics’ and technologies are emerging. Utilising perspectives from science and technology studies, we outline five modes in which renewable energy has been implemented in the UK and how …
Emotion and rationality: The characterisation and evaluation of opposition to renewable energy projects
Good Neighbours, Public Relations and Bribes: The Politics and Perceptions of Community Benefit Provision in Renewable Energy Development in the UK
The provision of community benefits has become a more common component of renewable energy project proposals in the UK. This raises questions as to the purposes these benefits are fulfilling and the ways in which they are perceived by the many different stakeholders involved in the processes of project development and approval. Are they seen as an effective strategic element in negotiations around planning consent; as a right for communities whos…
Imagined publics and engagement around renewable energy technologies in the UK
Against the backdrop of the imperatives for actors within the institutional framework of energy socio-technical systems to engage with the public, the aim of this paper is to consider interdependencies between the principles and practice of engagement and the nature of the imagined publics with whom engagement is being undertaken. Based on an analysis of 19 interviews with actors in the renewable energy industry, the paper explores how publics ar…
Renewable Energy and Sociotechnical Change: Imagined Subjectivities of ‘the Public’ and Their Implications
The public’ are potentially implicated in processes of sociotechnical change as political actors who welcome or resist technology development in general, or in particular places and settings. We argue in this paper that the potential influence of public subjectivities on sociotechnical change is realised not only through moments of active participation and protest, but also through ‘the public’ being imagined, given agency, and invoked for variou…
Commuting practices: New insights into modal shift from theories of social practice
The automobile commute makes an important contribution to carbon emissions but has proven stubbornly resistant to modal shift policy initiatives. In this paper we use theories of social practice to develop insights into why this stubbornness might exist, and what might help accelerate transitions to bus- and cycle-commuting. By analyzing qualitative data about everyday mobility in two UK cities, we examine how the availability of the constituent …
Satisfying Everyday Mobility
This paper engages with theoretical insights into understanding everyday travel (from the mobility turn and theories of social practice) in an analysis of everyday mobility using data from ethnographic research. The analysis of mobile performances draws attention to how travellers incorporate valued dispersed practices into mobility. We argue that incorporating such contingent practices into travel generates affective satisfactions consistently s…
The autonomobility system
In this chapter, the authors analyze automobility, the hegemonic mobility system, and suggest an alternative imaginary they call 'autonomobility'. They offer historical, scenario-based, fictional and existing glimpses of autonomobility to suggest it is a viable model of pegging the pursuit of individual flourishing within environmental limits and distributional equity, using socialized and collectivized forms of co-movement as a vision to animate…
How market standards affect building design: The case of low energy design in commercial offices
This paper develops existing work on building design through a focus on one important yet understudied form of regulation: market standards. Market standards are agreed upon definitions of ‘necessary’ provision in buildings and are fundamental in ‘formatting’ markets and determining the value of a building in the market. The paper presents a case study of the design of 10 commercial offices in London, UK, the effects of market standards on the de…
Participatory Design as the Temporal Flow of Coalescing Participatory Lines
This paper argues that the existing literature on participatory design (PD) tends to focus on frontstage design interactions (workshops, participants, methodologies, techniques, etc.) to facilitate PD ‘here and now’—referred to as the interactional approach . In contrast, the paper proposes to contribute to an evolving literature, referred to as the transformational approach , that takes a more longitudinal line and which attends to both the fron…
Hyper-aeromobility: The drivers and dynamics of frequent flying
Flying is the most climate-impacting form of individual consumption. This article interrogates the drivers and dynamics behind ever-increasing amounts of air travel ascribable to a minority, whose flying contributes an ever-larger proportion of travel-related energy consumption and carbon emissions. Moving beyond established work on (increases in) flying, it establishes the need to focus transport emissions reduction efforts on this relatively sm…
How are high-carbon lifestyles justified? Exploring the discursive strategies of excess energy consumers in the United Kingdom
The literature on climate action highlights the importance of individual and household behaviour change to achieve energy demand reduction and climate targets. However, behaviour change remains slow. The literature has highlighted numerous structural and individual barriers to behaviour change, but how high-energy consumers themselves justify the continuation of their behaviours remains poorly understood. This paper addresses this question by pro…
Domestic Use of E-Cargo Bikes and Other E-Micromobility: Protocol for a Multi-Centre, Mixed Methods Study
Physical inactivity is a leading risk factor for non-communicable diseases. Climate change is now regarded as the biggest threat to global public health. Electric micromobility (e-micromobility, including e-bikes, e-cargo bikes, and e-scooters) has the potential to simultaneously increase people's overall physical activity while decreasing greenhouse gas emissions where it substitutes for motorised transport. The ELEVATE study aims to understand …
E-bike use and ownership in the Lake District National-Park UK
E-bike use in rural and tourist areas is under-researched and has potential to replace car journeys reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other impacts of car use. We studied the rural use of e-bikes in a tourist area (the Lake District National Park, UK) through Covid-19. Mixed methods were used; two waves (2020 & 2021) of a semi-panel quantitative survey; including open responses; supplemented by self-study field trips. Key findings include hig…
How do electric cargo bikes fit with real life? A social practice analysis in the United Kingdom
Cycling an e-cargo bike offers key advantages of both car and bike use, and its potential to substitute many car trips offers energy demand reduction benefits. Fulfilling this potential depends on its being routinised in households' lives as a mobility practice. This paper applies social practice theory to interview data from 49 household trials of e-cargo bike use in suburbs of three cities in the United Kingdom to explore what domestic e-cargo …
Between or Beyond Bicycles and Cars? Navigating E-Cargo Bike Citizenship in the Transition to Sustainable Urban Mobility
Sociology (12 works) · Political science (11 works) · Business (8 works) · Engineering (7 works) · Law (7 works) · Public relations (7 works) · Social Acceptance of Renewable Energy (6 works) · Social science (6 works) · Urban Transport and Accessibility (6 works) · Computer Science (5 works)