Banca de DEFESA: HERNANY PAULO VARELA DOS REIS

Uma banca de DEFESA de DOUTORADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : HERNANY PAULO VARELA DOS REIS
DATE: 02/07/2026
TIME: 09:00
LOCAL: sala de videoconferência
TITLE:

Understanding Motorization and the Conditions of Public Transport Services Through the Lens of Anthropology: A Case Study of Paranoá, Federal District, Brazil

KEY WORDS:

Urban Mobility; Urban Mobility Anthropology; Mobility Culture; Motorization Culture; Public Transport; Ethnography

PAGES: 177
BIG AREA: Ciências Sociais Aplicadas
AREA: Arquitetura e Urbanismo
SUMMARY:

This doctoral thesis investigates the relationship between Mobility Culture, Motorization Culture, and the conditions of Public Collective Transport (PCT) services in the Administrative Region of Paranoá, Federal District, Brazil, through an anthropological and ethnographic perspective. The study is grounded on the premise that mobility decisions are not determined solely by technical or economic factors, but are also shaped by cultural, symbolic, familial, and social dimensions that influence how individuals relate to the city, transportation systems, and opportunities for social participation and development. The research seeks to understand how low-income households organize their daily mobility logistics and how these dynamics contribute to the growing preference for private motorized vehicles—particularly cars and motorcycles—over public transportation. The central hypothesis argues that Mobility Culture is strongly influenced by family logistics, the perceived quality of public transport services, and the increasing role of vehicles as economic assets used not only for personal mobility but also for income generation through ride-hailing, delivery services, and other economic activities. Methodologically, the thesis adopts the framework of Urban Mobility Anthropology and employs an ethnographic approach as its primary research strategy. Data collection combines three qualitative methods: Participant Observation, Semi-Structured Interviews, and Focus Groups. This methodological triangulation enables a deeper understanding of participants’ mobility practices, routines, perceptions, experiences, and everyday interactions with urban transportation systems. The case study conducted in Paranoá-DF reveals that household mobility patterns are directly associated with the need to access employment, education, healthcare, and other urban opportunities within a context marked by structural limitations in public transport provision. The findings indicate that issues related to frequency, reliability, integration, comfort, safety, and flexibility of public transportation contribute significantly to the strengthening of motorization, particularly among families seeking greater autonomy, predictability, and efficiency in their daily travel. The research further demonstrates that motorized vehicles play a strategic role in household economies, functioning simultaneously as mobility tools and income-generating assets. Consequently, motorization emerges not merely as a modal choice but as a broader strategy for economic survival, social inclusion, and urban accessibility among low-income populations. As a theoretical and methodological contribution, the thesis advances the concept of Mobility Culture, connecting it to the notions of Motorization Culture and Public Transport Use Culture. It also proposes an ethnographic framework applicable to urban mobility studies, capable of complementing the predominantly quantitative approaches traditionally employed in transportation research. Finally, the study argues that more effective mobility policies require a deeper understanding of the cultural, symbolic, and everyday dimensions that shape urban travel behavior. In this regard, understanding local Mobility Culture becomes essential for designing transportation systems that are more accessible, inclusive, sustainable, and responsive to the real needs of the population.

COMMITTEE MEMBERS:
Externo à Instituição - ANISIO BRASILEIRO DE FREITAS DOURADO - UFPE
Presidente - 404405 - JOAQUIM JOSE GUILHERME DE ARAGAO
Interno - 2765562 - MARCOS THADEU QUEIROZ MAGALHAES
Externo à Instituição - SIDENEY ANTUNES SCHREINER JUNIOR - NU
Interna - ***.317.619-** - YAEKO YAMASHITA - UnB