Sustainable mobility, cycle cultures and bio-power: Local cycle cultures and Baisikeli cycle shop in Copenhagen Anne Jensen aj@envs.au.dk Department of Environmental Sciences, Aarhus University VERSITET UNI
Introduction Changing cities and urban spaces, movements and flows Cycle mobility opens up for what cities are becoming Need for green transitions urban transport a real challenge Banister (2011): Sustainable mobility Mobility regimes: Increasingly also include cycle mobility Objective: how working with cycling cultures affects mobility behaviours how this is shaped by power mechanism
Overview Introduction Analytical framework: Biopower & Mobility cultures Methodology Copenhagener perspective on cycle cultures in Cph Baisikeli Cycle Rental and Repair Shop The doings of cycle mobility cultures Conclusions
Analytical framework Bio-power (Foucault) Naturalized knowledge of the body and pop gr Naturalized doings among social subjects Shaped spatialities atmospheres, materialities of the city Orchestrates, invites, induces, shapes constitution of selves individually and collective selves Develops, uses and is institutionalised in particular and situated cultures
Analytical framework Cycle culture - institutionalised - contested - situated in place and time - becoming on the move and performed, lived Doings practices, habits, ways of doing things Norms and codes behavioural rules, signs, communication, Meanings perceptions, values, ideas, worldviews Roles and social relations identifications, social networks, bonding Experience sensuous, emotional, affective, memories Materialities environments, technologies
Qualitative methodology Interviews 12 Cph cyclists, 4 cycle business, 2 Cph planners Participant observations In cycle spaces Auto-ethnography my own bodily experience and reactions Videos Document analysis Film, pamphlets cycle shop Policy docs City of Copenhagen
Cycle culture in Copenhagen Meaning: Naturalized way of movement Freedom Freedom and flexibility The soul of the city Just as different as people are Fast and easy Odd NOT to cycle Break from daily stress Experience: Diverse and adjusted to context A way to feel the city, sense it The liveliness of urban spaces e.g. Istedgade Relax the brain New routes to experience new parts of the city
Cycle culture in Copenhagen Doing Habitual Easy to spot who is not experienced e.g. tourists or new Copenhageners Negotiate traffic rules according to traffic and other cyclists Red lights generally respected unless 2 am Talk children through traffic as learning Congested cycle tracks creates tension Norms & Codes Basic signs very important and used Not often look back
Cycle culture in Copenhagen Roles No identity marker everyone cycles Building social relations Construct roles for other cyclists Watch out for tourists Princesses paying no attention of others hipsters with music and this road is for me attitude Lycra mamals in groups take over tracks Materialities Elevated or isolated cycle tracks crucial otherwise chaos Individualized bicycles e.g. cargo bikes for families
Case: Baisikeli Bicycle rental and repair shop The basic idea: Business via quality and based on sustainability and social profile Buy and repair insurance cycles, then sell/hire them in DK, Moc. Trains cycle mechanics DK, Beira, Cuba Level of skills a problem Innovates e.g. cargo bikes for local needs
Sale, repair, rental shop in central Cph Developing a training program across Mocambique, DK and Cuba V individualized cycles what fits your style Instructs individuals and groups who hire pamphlet, instructors
Findings Not identity marker for Cph ers but integrated in everyday life Not differentiating but naturalized part of identity in diverse ways Reflected in Baisikeli s focus on training and life skills Because cycling is so naturalized, the env. aspect is not dominant but the social aspect stirs sympathy, interest Negotiated behaviour and safety on the tracks contextualised Congested cycle tracks Basic signs taught from early on Also included in Baisikeli practice in Cph and Beira
Findings Easy access in creative cycle spaces the Snake bridge The training programs Opens up cycling skills for range of people in Cph Essential for making Beira business work
Conclusions Power Normalizing cycling uses bodily experience and is ongoing process through Tapping into existing cultures Shaped by e.g. Cph cycling policies Cycle cultures as becoming and Baisikeli as soc., env., and esp. econ. sustainable business enables and sets processes in motion Cycle culture as mobility culture is situated and always in the making à reflects the city shapes urban life and spaces Liveability, diversity, activity Individualism, social networking
Thank you for listening