A viscous cycle: low motility amongst Phnom Penh’s highly mobile cyclo riders

Parsons, Laurie; Lawreniuk, Sabina

Abstract

This paper uses the concept of viscosity to highlight how structural impediments to movement affect not only populations and individuals characterised by low (or no) mobility but also highly mobile groups. Using the ‘cyclo’ riding paratransit workers of Phnom Penh as a lens, it is suggested here that groups of this sort are trapped in high-mobility cycles by a combination of structural factors and the discourse of their livelihoods. Specifically, cyclo riders are bound to their livelihoods by three overlapping forces: the evolution of Cambodia’s paratransit system during the past 20 years leading to diminishing demand for their services; shifts in agricultural production practices; and the changing narrative meaning of the occupation in the eyes of its customers. By combining a migration systems perspective with insights from previous work on the cultural discourse of mobility, it is argued here that this combination of pressures impels cyclo riders movement – and prevents its cessation – in such a way as to constitute the components of a circular, or mobile, viscosity.

Citation

Parsons, L., & Lawreniuk, S. (2017). A viscous cycle: low motility amongst Phnom Penh’s highly mobile cyclo riders. Mobilities, 12(5), 646-662. https://doi.org/10.1080/17450101.2016.1176775

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Apr 6, 2016
• Online Publication Date: Jun 9, 2016
• Publication Date: Sep 3, 2017
• Deposit Date: Sep 15, 2020
• Journal: Mobilities
• Print ISSN: 1745-0101
• Electronic ISSN: 1745-011X
• Publisher: Routledge
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 12
• Issue: 5
• Pages: 646-662
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/17450101.2016.1176775
• Public URL: https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/4778746
• Publisher URL: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/17450101.2016.1176775
• Additional Information: Peer Review Statement: The publishing and review policy for this title is described in its Aims & Scope.; Aim & Scope: http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=rmob20