Urban Cycling

CfP - The Invisible Bicycle: New Insights into Bicycle History

by Timo Myllyntaus

Call for papers
Session on Bicycle History
ICOHTEC, Manchester, U.K., 22–28 July 2013
In conjunction of... more Call for papers
Session on Bicycle History
ICOHTEC, Manchester, U.K., 22–28 July 2013
In conjunction of the 24th International Congress of the History of Science, Technology and Medicine


The Invisible Bicycle: New Insights into Bicycle History


Despite of the ongoing interest and the multitude on historical insights, bicycle history calls for further research, especially as the bicycle has at some point in time been an integral part of everyday life and mobility in probably all corners of the world. Many aspects of bicycle use and technology remain invisible or show only fleeting presence in the bicycle historiography. Partially this is due to locations that appear peripheral, such as developing countries and rural areas. But even the Western, urban cycling asks for more scrutiny, especially during the decades of bicycle’s most intensive use as a means of transport, from the early 20th century till the1960s. Similarly interesting are the dynamics of the decline and a new increase in cycling in the second half of the 20th century.

How can we study the history of everyday practices in bicycle use and non-use? Is the decline of cycling in industrial societies a universal phenomenon? How do the transnational timelines of bicycle history look like? How have technological features and design influenced on the image and popularity of cycling? Are there “national styles” in the design and technical characteristics of bicycles? To this session we invite papers on all aspects of bicycle history, but especially on those so far understudied. We encourage questioning typical timelines of bicycle history and presenting of alternative histories and controversial case studies.

Please, contact Timo Myllyntaus (timmyl@utu.fi) or Tiina Männistö-Funk (tiiman@utu.fi) and submit an abstract (200 – 400 words) of your paper proposal and a one-page CV by Friday 9 March 2012.

Further information at: http://www.icohtec.org/annual-meeting-cfp-2013.html

Critical Mass Rides Against Car Culture

by Zack Furness

Cycle Flows and Weather: an algorithm for adjusting for ambient temperature and rainfall in cycle counts

by Andrew Smith

published in the London Analytics Research Journal, issue 3, ISSN 1756-025X

This paper reports a successful estimation of the coeffficients to adjust observed cycle counts for changes in ambient... more This paper reports a successful estimation of the coeffficients to adjust observed cycle counts for changes in ambient temperature, rainfall, weekends, and bank holidays.

On Greater London's main roads, which carry a significant proportion of London's cycling, cycle flows rise on average by 1.8% for each degree Celsius increase in mean temperature on working days, and by 2.7% for each degree Celsius at weekends and bank holidays.

The presence of rainfall typically reduces flows by 9.1% on a working day, and by 13.9% on other days. This reflects a higher proportion of discretionary ("fair weather") leisure travel at weekends, in contrast with utility (typically commuter) cycling during the week.

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

Use of a New Public Bicycle Share Program in Montreal, Canada

by Daniel Fuller

Background

Cycling contributes to physical activity and health. Public bicycle share programs (PBSPs)... more Background

Cycling contributes to physical activity and health. Public bicycle share programs (PBSPs) increase population access to bicycles by deploying bicycles at docking stations throughout a city. Minimal research has systematically examined the prevalence and correlates of PBSP use.
Purpose

To determine the prevalence and correlates of use of a new public bicycle share program called BIXI (name merges the word BIcycle and taXI) implemented in May 2009 in Montreal, Canada.
Methods

A total of 2502 adults were recruited to a telephone survey in autumn 2009 via random-digit dialing according to a stratified random sampling design. The prevalence of BIXI bicycle use was estimated. Multivariate logistic regression allowed for identification of correlates of use. Data analysis was conducted in spring and summer 2010.
Results

The unweighted mean age of respondents was 47.4 (SD=16.8) years and 61.4% were female. The weighted prevalence for use of BIXI bicycles at least once was 8.2%. Significant correlates of BIXI bicycle use were having a BIXI docking station within 250 m of home, being aged 18–24 years, being university educated, being on work leave, and using cycling as the primary mode of transportation to work.
Conclusions

A newly implemented public bicycle share program attracts a substantial fraction of the population and is more likely to attract younger and more educated people who currently use cycling as a primary transportation mode.

'MASSE' IN BICICLETTA. Una pratica sociale anomala e l’immaginario urbano dominato dall’automobile. Esperienze di Critical Mass a Milano.

by Gianni Rondinella

B.Sc. Paper in Urban and Regional Planning. Iuav University, Venice, Italy (in Italian Language)

Thesis Title: 'Masses by bicycle. An atypical social practice and the urban imaginary dominated by automobile.... more Thesis Title: 'Masses by bicycle. An atypical social practice and the urban imaginary dominated by automobile. Critical mass experiences in Milan', Empirical research on the meanings of Critical mass practice for urban policy&planning, focusing on its ability to change the way cities are perceived and used by citizens.

Garrard, J. and Hakman, N. (2005) Supportive Environments for Physical Activity: Exploring the Impact of 'Safe' Cycling Facilities on Female Cycling Rates, 15th National Conference, Australian Health Promotion Association, Canberra, Australia

by Natalie Hakman

How to Ride a Bike: A Guide for Fat Cyclists

by Charlotte Cooper

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.

Children aged 9-14 living in disadvantaged areas in England: Opportunities and barriers for cycling

by Sarah Rodgers

Children aged 9-14 living in disadvantaged areas in England: Opportunities and barriers for cycling

by Sarah Rodgers

Garrard, J., Crawford, S. and Hakman, N. (2006) Revolutions for women : increasing women's participation in cycling for recreation and transport, Deakin University, School of Health and Social Development, Geelong, Vic.

by Natalie Hakman

Estudio Sobre El Impacto De La Implantación De Sistemas De Bicicletas Públicas En España

by Esther Anaya

The bicycle as a feedering mode: experiences from three European countries

by Karel Martens