Finding that elusive bell and other issues - experiences from starting to cycle during a pandemic

Abstract

The Covid19 pandemic has pushed a large number of people to change their mode of transport from (mainly) public transport to cycling, and thus given us an opportunity to study the adoption process of cycling. The paper reports on an interview study with 12 participants who started, or significantly increased, cycling during the pandemic, and utilises the Innovation-Decision Process to analyse the participants' cycling adoption and draw implications. The results show that adopting cycling as a primary mode of transport is a journey of constant reinvention of practices based on positive and negative discoveries, and that equipment (incl. a variety of clothes, bicycles, and bells) is key to overcome the negative discoveries. The main implication for urban policy and planning is that many measures can be taken to increase adoption of everyday cycling in addition to building more protected bicycle lanes. Examples include 1) develop new equipment more suited for everyday cycling, 2) create meeting points to transfer knowledge on equipment as well as good routes, 3) prioritize cycling at workplaces and other destinations with lockers, indoor storage, etcetera. To influence people to begin everyday cycling, it is also important to address the measures towards 'people who cycle' rather than 'cyclists' as many people do not wish to identify themselves as the latter.

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