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Abstract

This thesis investigates the phenomenon of entrenched mobility, a concept developed to capture the ways in which systemic forces—material, social, political, and economic—produce and perpetuate patterns of unequal mobility within urban environments. Grounded in the interdisciplinary tradition of human geography and mobility studies, the research situates Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula as a compelling case through which to interrogate the mechanisms that limit mobility, particularly for marginalized peoples. By bridging theoretical innovation with empirical analysis, the thesis advances a critical framework for understanding how mobility is not simply the technical act of traversing space, but a deeply social process that reflects and reproduces broader structures of privilege and exclusion. The study first traces the transition from transportation geography, with its focus on the infrastructure and economics of movement, to the more nuanced and critical perspectives of mobility studies. This shift, often described as the ‘mobility turn,’ foregrounds the relational, experiential, and political aspects of movement, challenging the sedentarist assumptions that have long dominated social science. Drawing on the foundational work of scholars such as Cresswell, Sheller, and Urry, the thesis elaborates key concepts –automobility, hypermobility, motility, and kinetic space– that constitute the conceptual bedrock for a new understanding of urban mobility. These analytical tools enable a move beyond the limitations of positivist, quantitative approaches, allowing for a richer account of how mobility is experienced, negotiated, and contested. At the core of the research is the concept of entrenched mobility, defined as the routinized, systemic, and often invisible restrictions on movement that disproportionately affect those at the margins of society. These restrictions are not incidental; rather, they are the cumulative result of intersecting infrastructural, socio-political, and economic factors. Over time, such constraints become embedded in daily routines, solidifying into persistent patterns of limited movement that both reflect and reinforce existing social hierarchies and spatial inequalities. The thesis demonstrates that entrenched mobility is not merely a matter of inconvenience or inefficiency, but a manifestation of deeper social and political dynamics that restrict access to the city and its resources. The research focuses on two case studies, to wit, the cities of Campeche and Merida, employing an approach that combines statistical analysis, critical cartography, and the comparative method pioneered by Lijphart. The case studies reveal that mobility in the Yucatan Peninsula is profoundly shaped by the intersection of ethnicity, class, and infrastructural provision. The mobility of the Maya community is entrenched due to material barriers and the constant threat of violence. These limitations are further compounded by the spatial distribution of housing and employment, which result from a legacy of colonial urban development. The comparative analysis of Campeche and Merida underscores the heterogeneity of entrenched mobility, highlighting both the context-specific and generalizable aspects of the phenomenon. While the empirical focus is necessarily limited in scope –constrained by the available data and the practicalities of fieldwork– the findings offer broader insights into the ways in which urban mobility regimes are structured by, and contribute to, the reproduction of inequality. The thesis argues that efforts to address mobility injustice must move beyond technocratic solutions focused solely on infrastructure, instead engaging with the intersecting social, economic, and cultural barriers that shape everyday movement. In sum, this thesis positions mobility as a central lens through which to interrogate the social, political, and experiential dimensions of urban life. By introducing and applying the concept of entrenched mobility, it offers a framework for understanding how systemic forces shape not only the possibilities but also the constraints of movement within urban environments. The research insists that mobility is a fundamental right, essential to full participation in society, and calls for a reconceptualization of urban travel that centres on equity and social justice. In doing so, it contributes both to the advancement of critical mobility studies and to the ongoing struggle for more inclusive and just urban futures.