Becoming Urban Cyclists

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Since the turn of the 21st century, cycling has been re-evaluated as a form of utilitarian transport, experiencing significant growth in modal share across major cities in the Global North. While cycling is increasingly integrated into urban planning and mobility programs, funding remains disproportionately low compared to motor transport. This insufficient investment hinders the transformation of cities into cycling-friendly environments. Becoming an urban cyclist involves acquiring diverse skills and knowledge through various socialization processes, influenced by culture, gender, social context, topography, technological advancements like electrification, and local or national cycling promotion campaigns. This volume employs qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods, drawing on fieldwork from Australia, France, Germany, Switzerland, and the UK. It emphasizes the acquisition of cycling skills and competencies, linking cycling practices to individual life courses and addressing gender and social inequalities. By adopting a multidisciplinary approach, the authors—comprising anthropologists, geographers, linguists, sociologists, and urban planners—illuminate geographical and sociological differences, providing insights into factors that may encourage or hinder urban cycling practices.