Abstract
There is an increasing need for environmental sustainability transitions in the mobility sector. Alternatives to private ownership of cars are emerging innovations that may contribute to this transition. Carsharing and car subscriptions are two services provided as an alternative to private ownership of cars. Much of the previous research on sustainability transition uses transitions studies as multi-level-perspective. The transition studies using multi-level-perspective lack the ability to analyze individual behavior and meanings. Practice theories enable the analysis of how elements connect and create new practices, such as carsharing and car subscription. The previous research in this field has focused on the users or the providers of the services, it has been researched the role of practices in the sustainability transitions, how to increase the share of carsharing members in Norway and how carsharing is adopted by users (Svennevik, Julsrud, & Farstad, 2020) (Priya Uteng, Julsrud, & George, 2019) (Johbraaten & Ryeng, 2019). Practice theories are used in this thesis to study the aspects of how new practices emerge. The study analyses how the dynamic between provider and user meanings makes connections to establish new mobility practices. This thesis adds to the current research as it analyzes the dynamics between provider and user, and it looks at both carsharing and car subscription services. Through in-depth interviews with providers and users of the carsharing service Otto and car subscription service Fleks in Norway, this thesis gives an analysis of how the element meaning connect to establish new practices. Through the lens of practice theories, I find that meaning is an important element in the connection of creating practices. The dynamic between provider and user meaning shapes the services. I argue that government policies can through the element of meaning be analyzed through practice theories and adds to the theories analysis. The thesis finds that the meanings of provider and user connect with material and competence to create new mobility practices.