Cycling, Gender and Critical Mass
by Andrew Smith
published in the London Analytics Research Journal, issue 1, ISSN 1756-025X
In this paper, I examine the evidence for the proposition that places with high cycling tend to have a higher... more In this paper, I examine the evidence for the proposition that places with high cycling tend to have a higher proportion of female cyclists. Positive correlations supporting this are found within two separate data sets: the 2001 Census, and the London Area Travel Survey 2001. Comparisons are made to results from the Dutch annual national travel survey, which shows high cycling figures nationally and by individual province, sustained high modal share across all ages, including the over-75s, and a consistent balance between the numbers of male and female cyclists. Recent increases in the amount of cycling in Greater London (40% growth on the main road network, the TLRN, between 2001 and 2004), have been accompanied by an increase in the proportion of women within the cycling population, from 27% in 2001 to 40% in 2005
DownloadOther people, other times and special places: A social representations perspective of cycling in a tourism destination
Dickinson, J.E., and D. Robbins (2009) ‘Other people, other times and special places’: a social representations perspective of cycling in a tourism destination. Tourism and Hospitality: Planning and Development 6(1), 69-85
A social representations framework and a mixed methods approach was used to analyse cycling in a UK destination... more
A social representations framework and a mixed methods approach was used to analyse cycling in a UK destination (Purbeck, Dorset). An initial exploratory interview phase provided
in-depth knowledge of social contexts and facilitated a subsequent quantitative phase employing travel diaries and a questionnaire survey. Cycling was considered a leisure practice frequently associated with “other” people that was marginalised, isolated from everyday life and situated in other places at other times. While there is potential for cycling to be developed as a tourism product, the need to transport cycles to special places makes it questionable as a sustainable practice. The findings show how, in the absence of actual experience of cycling, social conceptions shape people’s knowledge of cycling and the potential for cycle use.
How to Ride a Bike: A Guide for Fat Cyclists
Cooper, C. (2005) 'How to Ride a Bike: A Guide for Fat Cyclists' [Online]. London. Available: http://www.charlottecooper.net/docs/fat/rideabike.htm [Accessed 15 August 2011].
Online article about fat people and cycling, a response to the London Cycling Campaign's anti-obesity rhetoric. Online article about fat people and cycling, a response to the London Cycling Campaign's anti-obesity rhetoric.