Cycling Cultures blog

Our paper on ‘group rides’ (Constructing Mobile Places Between ‘Leisure’ and ‘Transport’: A Case Study of Two Group Cycle Rides) is now available online from Sociology for those with journal access. If you haven’t got access, feel free to email me for a personal copy, or you can read an earlier version on the papers page.

Here’s the abstract:

This article contributes to a growing literature examining the sociological significance of mobile places, exploring mobile place-making through an analysis of the practice of weekend group leisure cycling. These rides represent a mobility practice where the main aim of participants may be ‘leisure’ but most infrastructure used is designated for ‘transport’. Using ethnographic methods, the article provides an analysis of rhythm, positioning and communication on two group rides, one from Hull into the East Yorkshire countryside and one in London. External (including motor traffic flow and route type) and internal (including group composition and experience) factors shape the relationship between the riders and their ride, and hence the mobile places that they co-create. The article argues that cyclists riding in groups create distinctively flexible social spaces. These group cycling practices variously challenge, mimic and adapt to the motorized orientation of much road space.

I have had lots of requests for this paper after mentioning it on the blog. Having checked with the publisher, I realise that I am allowed to post a version of the article online now. This is the pre-peer review version so the one eventually published in Mobilities (hopefully in May/June) will be slightly different. Please click here to download the pre-print.

Incompetent, or too competent? Negotiating everyday cycling identities in a motor dominated society

Abstract:
This paper uses the concept of stigma to explore cycling identities in the UK. Drawing on interview data, it argues that people who cycle are caught between two threats: appearing too competent as a cyclist (a ‘proper cyclist’), and appearing not competent enough (a ‘bad cyclist’). Strategies of identity management are discussed, which can include elements of negotiation, disavowal, and challenge. The paper aims to show that transport modes can produce disadvantaged and stigmatised social identities: like other forms of stigma these are mediated both by social environments and by other social identities. Implications for policy and advocacy are suggested.