Pioneering mobilities: new patterns of movement and motility in a mobile world

The paper presents empirical data from a research project on mobility pioneers. It shows new mobility patterns and constellations of mobility and immobility, movement and motility (mobility potential). The author raises the question as to whether the reported subject-oriented strategies for coping with the modern 'mobility imperative' open up a perspective on a structural change in the modern concept of mobility and mobility practice. The theory of reflexive modernization is used to discuss this question and to help to understand the relevance of the empirical findings. In concluding, the paper focuses on further mobility research and introduces a distinction between 'transit spaces' and 'connectivity spaces' as relevant issues for research on new configurations of spatial, social, and virtual mobility.