Cycling policy futures: diversifying governance, expertise and the culture of everyday mobilities

Abstract

Policymaking in the transport sector is changing, and the growth of cycling policy throughout the globe is one indicator of this. Whether driven by the environmental movement, climate change or by changes in urban culture, transport policy constitutes an important arena for shaping the future of cycling. This article discusses two distinct periods of cycling promotion in Munich spanning roughly 50 years: initial policies to develop a bicycle transport system in the 1980s and 1990s, and more recent policies to foster a stronger cycling culture from the 2000s to 2014. The contextual and discursive dynamics of policymaking are assessed to make sense of how a change in policy discourse came about. Ultimately, change is explained through reflecting on the changing dynamics of policymaking processes themselves to promote cycling: changing conditions and cultures of everyday mobility, new governance approaches to transport policy, and the diversification political actors and expertise. The article closes with discussing the insights these dimensions provide for fostering sustainable cycling futures.

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