Wellbeing and Regeneration

Project: Cycling cultures: a qualitative study of “everyday cycling” in Cambridge

Main Contact : Rachel Aldred

Project Team: Rachel Aldred (Principal Investigator)

Start date: April 2008

End date: October 2008

Project funder: IHHD provided funding for equipment and transcription and funded several trips to Cambridge to carry out research. The research was primarily carried out in Summer 2008 (i.e. when I did not have HSS teaching responsibilities).

Molly Andrews (CNR) provided mentoring support.

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Background:

This was a pilot project to investigate studying cultures of cycling within Cambridge, a high-cycling enclave within a low-cycling country. The primary method was the conduction of 25 narrative interviews, plus use of some visual methods.

Aims:

• To explore the usefulness of ethnographic and other qualitative methods in exploring cultures of “everyday cycling”
• To gather some preliminary data on possible components and supports for “cultures of cycling”
• To secure funding for follow-on research

Methods:

Primarily narrative interviews; also collection of some head camera footage.

Findings:

• Ethnography and other qualitative methods provide distinctive and useful insights into “cultures of cycling” including how cycling is woven into identity narratives.
• Factors supporting cycling cultures may include: presence of bicycle shops near home and work, pro-cycling employers and local politicians and officers, networks enabling communication with other cyclists (in person or online), and problems or barriers to the use of other modes of transport in a particular area (e.g. the car). These and other issues will be investigated further in comparative research.

Publications:

One paper (on cycling and citizenship) is currently in press with Social and Cultural Geography; due to be published later in the year. I am working on a second paper.

Research applications:

I have recently secured a 2-year ESRC First Grant to extend the project methodologically and geographically. This will take place in 2010 and 2011 and will include liaison with stakeholders to explore the policy implications of the research.

© 2010