Cycling in an ‘ordinary city’: A practice theory approach to supporting a modal shift

Abstract

There has long been evidence of the benefit of a modal shift toward cycling can bring to meeting several pressing urban challenges including ill-health, climate change, and poor air quality. In the wake of COVID-19, policy-makers have identified a modal shift toward cycling as part of the solution to mobility challenges introduced by social distancing measures. However, beyond exemplar areas, cycling has been largely characterized by a stubbornly-low modal share. In this paper, we use the 'ordinary city'in cycling termsof Liverpool as a case study to understand this. We apply practice theory in doing so, finding the provision of materials for cycling is the key factor in supporting a modal shift. Not only do they provide the means to support the practice of cycling in the city, but they also have a key role in shaping individuals perceptions of, and the skills required to cycle. We then reflect upon the utility of practice theory in understanding the patterns of everyday life, finding it was particularly well suited in understanding the interactions between different factors which influence modal choice. We go on to identify practical challenges in its application within our analysis raising questions around an inconsistent analysis of influential factors including 'driver behavior' and 'political commitment'. We suggest how this might be overcome, through the isolation of such factors within a category of 'action of others', this we argue means the findings in this paper have broad relevance to researchers and policy-makers alike.

(Un)sustainable everyday practices sociomateriality shaping sustainability in an urban district

“…Instead, the bicycle – a material in action – represented an undisputed sustainability symbol, and thus feeds into the meanings of cycling. In contrast to findings by Buck and Nurse (2023), participants in this study did not talk about walking in relation to cycling, nor as a mode of transport. Instead, walking was mentioned mostly as moving about in nature.…”

“…Additionally, they talked about how materials in the background, such as good bicycle lanes in the city enabled cycling as an everyday mode of transport. This resonates with other studies (see, for example: Buck and Nurse, 2023;Scheurenbrand et al, 2018;Larsen, 2017) where the perception of the physical infrastructure had a direct link to how easy or difficult cyclists considered the practice to be in different locations. Materials thus shape meanings of cycling in relation to whether these are seen as enablers or hindrances.…”

“…: Uppsala kommun 2022b). The idea of Uppsala being a cycling city was mirrored in participants’ accounts, and in contrast to findings from emerging cycling cities (Buck and Nurse, 2023; Spotswood et al, 2015; Scheurenbrand et al, 2018) participants in this study did not consider the need for special skills an obstable, nor were meanings of danger or difficulty associated with cycling.…”

What comes to count as sustainable in Rosendal? : a study of how sustainability is being reproduced in an urban sociomaterial assemblage

“…Instead, the bicyclea material in actionrepresented an undisputed sustainability symbol, and thus feeds into the meanings of cycling. In contrast to findings by Buck and Nurse (2023), participants in this study did not talk about walking in relation to cycling, nor as a mode of transport. Instead, walking was mentioned mostly as moving about in nature.…”