Understanding Urban Cycling: Exploring the Relationship Between Mobility, Sustainability and Capital

Academic interest in cycling has grown, with a focus on its health and environmental benefits, infrastructure, and embodied experiences. This book argues that urban cycling policy and practice are closely linked to broader processes of capital accumulation, prioritizing those already mobile and sustaining pro-growth agendas rather than subverting them or shifting to sustainable no-growth/de-growth visions of modernity.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 234 pages
Publication date: 29 April 2022
Publisher: Taylor & Francis Ltd

Academic interest in cycling has surged in recent years, driven by a wealth of literature exploring the health and environmental benefits of cycling, the need for cycle-specific infrastructure, and the embodied experiences of cycling. Through comprehensive primary research conducted in diverse contexts like London, Shanghai, and Taipei, this book uncovers a profound connection between recent developments in urban cycling policy and practice and broader processes of capital accumulation. It argues that cycling has become increasingly entangled in discourses surrounding smart cities, which prioritize technological solutions to environmental problems and neoliberal notions of individual responsibility and bio-political conduct. This approach, the book suggests, ultimately leads to solutions that prioritize the already mobile, perpetuating social and environmental concerns.

However, the book does not argue that the popularization of cycling is inherently problematic. Instead, it raises concerns about the manner in which cycling is being promoted, suggesting that it is being used as a vehicle to sustain pro-growth agendas rather than subvert them or shift towards sustainable no-growth or de-growth visions of modernity. The central argument of the book is that cycling has evolved from a mode of transportation to a tool for promoting economic growth and urban development. It explores how cycling infrastructure is being designed and implemented to cater to the needs of cyclists, often at the expense of other modes of transportation and the environment.

Furthermore, the book delves into the embodied experiences of cycling, examining how it shapes individuals' identities, relationships, and sense of place. It explores the ways in which cycling can promote physical and mental well-being, as well as social connections and community engagement. The book also raises important questions about the role of cycling in addressing climate change and promoting sustainable urban development. It argues that cycling can play a significant role in reducing carbon emissions, improving air quality, and promoting sustainable transportation systems.

In conclusion, this book makes an innovative contribution to the fields of Cycling Studies, Mobilities, and Transport. It offers a critical analysis of the current trends in urban cycling policy and practice, shedding light on the ways in which cycling is being used to promote pro-growth agendas and perpetuate social and environmental concerns. The book will be of interest to students and academics working in Human Geography, Transport Studies, Urban Studies, Urban Planning, Public Policy, Sociology, and Sustainability, as it provides valuable insights into the complex dynamics of cycling and its role in shaping our cities and societies.

Weight: 430g
Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780367567736