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Dr Peter Cox Network Meeting, TUWien 10/6/2014

Social Sciences and C ycling Cultures: What can Social Science research contribute to doubling cycling numbers?. Dr Peter Cox Network Meeting, TUWien 10/6/2014. Social Science. A broad range of academic disciplines in the humanities and social sciences Sociology Politics Geography

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Dr Peter Cox Network Meeting, TUWien 10/6/2014

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  1. Social Sciences and Cycling Cultures:What can Social Science research contribute to doubling cycling numbers? Dr Peter Cox Network Meeting, TUWien 10/6/2014

  2. Social Science • A broad range of academic disciplines in the humanities and social sciences Sociology Politics Geography History Psychology Philosophy & many more…

  3. Bicycle as a material object • Artefact • Designed • Produced • Marketed • Used in many different ways and roles (sport transport, tourism, leisure) • Can be studied through different lenses • (e.g. history, economics, politics, law)

  4. Sociology of technology • Relationship between technology and its users • Transformation of studies of the bicycle into studies of cycling and the cyclist • Analysing the forces involved in changes • of type of activity • of volume of activity • of meaning of activity • of technologies themselves

  5. Sociology of mobilities • Critical movement in social science towards understandings of culture and social practices • Not just the study of institutions • Focus on mobility – a world characterised by in movement • Studies on cycling practices an obvious specialism • Foundation of Cycling and Society Research Group (2004)

  6. Cycling and society • Growth of studies of practices and cultures • Commitment to a “public sociology” • Involved in action for change • A new “emancipatory” field of study (Gijs Mom 2011) • Rapid proliferation of studies • Cross-disciplinary collaboration

  7. Lessons learned • Diversity • Different people • Different practices • Different needs at different times • Site specificity – good solutions and best practice principles but no universal solutions

  8. But… • Studies of cycling only part of the story • Increasing cycling = changing collective behaviour (not individual) • Understand collective behaviour change • Vital and growing role of social sciences in all areas of social policy: transport planning is a relatively late arrival

  9. How to assist in doubling numbers? • Doubling numbers is a change which requires policy intervention • “Complexity of human society insists that the product of an intervention does not necessarily coincide with its intention”!

  10. How to assist in doubling numbers? • Examine the role of social sciences in other policy interventions and social change • models of change (actors, agency, ownership) • models of intervention • evaluation (VITAL!)

  11. Practical issues • Dealing with diversity • Understanding the impact of existing interventions on users • Role and experience of non-users • Doubling numbers means doubling (at least) desirability – experience of use of intervention, facilities needs to be not just acceptable but very enjoyable

  12. Evaluation issues • Quantitative measures insufficient alone • What is the user experience? • Does it make action easier? • More pleasant? • Provide greater feelings of security? For whom? • Are new conflicts created? • How does it feel to use new facilities? • Short-term and long-term evaluation

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