A new cycle : understanding current challenges of increasing cycling in a city of cyclists

Abstract: In the global context of an ever-growing trend of automobility and all its drawbacks, cycling offers an environmentally and socially sustainable transport alternative. Copenhagen has become one of the best cities for cycling, and impressive advances in promoting this practice have raised their cycling share up to 41% of all trips to work/education. However, municipal cycling goals have been postponed and percentages have slightly decreased, while the city is experiencing accentuated population growth and car ownership is rising. In addition, cars still hold dominance in the share of all trips, in the urban landscape and in mobility rationalities. Precisely due to its cycling status and ambitions, this thesis analyzes the city’s previous cycling developments and current challenges regarding further increase in cycling share. To address my inquiries, a literature review and semi-structured interviews were conducted, while applying the lens of social practice theory. Findings reveal the dynamics between elements and practices, and identifies challenges within and between social practice theory’s elements. Historical developments leading up to the current cycling state make clear the constant interaction of material, meaning and competence aspects of cycling throughout time, and reveal a relation between the practices of cycling and driving. These findings set important context-based knowledge for understanding the state and challenges that were also identified by key informants. Current challenges in increasing cycling share are also examined using the theory and influence of and between the elements is made clear. The strongest finding of this part was the space given to cyclists, as well as the reluctance to take away from motorized traffic, hindered by voter support. These then triggered meaning and competence challenges associated to cycling. In addition to these, challenges were encountered in decision-making. These include national level, whose influence lies mainly in measures to decrease car use and ownership; police, who have the power to veto urban planning projects and the complex cross-municipal planning for cycling and intermodal means. Future research could advance policy recommendations for developments in all areas of cycling as a social practice, including material resolutions of the current antagonistic relationship between cars and bicycles in the urban landscape, competence considerations of inter-institutional collaboration in pro-cycling administration, and the advancement of meaning current with sustainable practices and visions of livable, healthy and viable cities of the future.