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Beyond cycle paths : a bottom-up approach to promoting cycling culture

Hale, Colin LU (2013) In Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science MESM01 20131
LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)
Abstract
This thesis examines a community‐based approach to promoting cycling, suggesting that a top‐down approach of infrastructure and facilities should be complemented by a bottom‐up approach by the community to help address complex behavioural norms inherent in transport modal choice. The research hinges on the framing of cycling as culture – a holistic yet heterogeneous activity – and the idea that developing cycling culture will contribute to increased transport cycling. Using an action research process, a bottom‐up approach was formed by creating a meeting point for actors in the cycling community of Växjö, a municipality in southern Sweden. This meeting point evolved into a collaborative space through the progression of social learning... (More)
This thesis examines a community‐based approach to promoting cycling, suggesting that a top‐down approach of infrastructure and facilities should be complemented by a bottom‐up approach by the community to help address complex behavioural norms inherent in transport modal choice. The research hinges on the framing of cycling as culture – a holistic yet heterogeneous activity – and the idea that developing cycling culture will contribute to increased transport cycling. Using an action research process, a bottom‐up approach was formed by creating a meeting point for actors in the cycling community of Växjö, a municipality in southern Sweden. This meeting point evolved into a collaborative space through the progression of social learning where actors realized the benefit of working together. The actors formed a partnership by starting a new organisation with the goal of supporting and developing cycling culture. The first project for the organisation was hosting a cycling festival – an opportunity to bring Växjö’s cycling community together via a cultural event. The municipality, meanwhile, began to consider integrating cycling culture into its cycling strategy. The project serves to demonstrate an approach to promoting sustainable transportation and the effective merging of action research methods with sustainability science through the use of societal actors as local experts, coresearchers and agents of social change. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Hale, Colin LU
supervisor
organization
course
MESM01 20131
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
culture, cycling, action research, collaboration, Bottom‐up, partnership, sustainability science
publication/series
Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science
report number
2013:018
language
English
id
3815107
date added to LUP
2013-06-19 15:53:44
date last changed
2013-06-19 15:53:44
@misc{3815107,
  abstract     = {{This thesis examines a community‐based approach to promoting cycling, suggesting that a top‐down approach of infrastructure and facilities should be complemented by a bottom‐up approach by the community to help address complex behavioural norms inherent in transport modal choice. The research hinges on the framing of cycling as culture – a holistic yet heterogeneous activity – and the idea that developing cycling culture will contribute to increased transport cycling. Using an action research process, a bottom‐up approach was formed by creating a meeting point for actors in the cycling community of Växjö, a municipality in southern Sweden. This meeting point evolved into a collaborative space through the progression of social learning where actors realized the benefit of working together. The actors formed a partnership by starting a new organisation with the goal of supporting and developing cycling culture. The first project for the organisation was hosting a cycling festival – an opportunity to bring Växjö’s cycling community together via a cultural event. The municipality, meanwhile, began to consider integrating cycling culture into its cycling strategy. The project serves to demonstrate an approach to promoting sustainable transportation and the effective merging of action research methods with sustainability science through the use of societal actors as local experts, coresearchers and agents of social change.}},
  author       = {{Hale, Colin}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science}},
  title        = {{Beyond cycle paths : a bottom-up approach to promoting cycling culture}},
  year         = {{2013}},
}