Quite interesting, this. London-based study of why some Londoners cycle and others don’t, but I suspect there are some universal British truths in there.
Why are London cyclists so white, male and middle class?
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
"Why are London cyclists so white, male and middle-class?"
(15 posts)-
Posted 8 years ago #
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The report this is based on -
https://researchonline.lshtm.ac.uk/1179/1/Cycling_and_the_city_published_author_copy.pdf
which was published in 2011 (not that I think that much will have changed.)
The problem, of course, is not who cycles, but what can be done to significantly widen the 'types' who do.
The article includes "Some cycling campaigners get very touchy when such inconvenient truths are pointed out".
Which can be interpreted in different ways!
I was at a 'workshop' on getting more people cycling about 10 years ago, run by CEC. There was quite a discussion about whether to spend money on 'places where people cycle' or 'places where they don't'.
The 'social inclusion' case was made, but in the absence of lots of money the pragmatic conclusion was to spend where it would (probably) make the most difference - basically the city centre, QBiC etc.
Of course it's not all about infrastructure, but it helps...
Posted 8 years ago # -
The social inclusion piece is interesting, but status anxiety seems to be a big barrier for the socially excluded (understandably).
I suspect the only way to break that one down is to make cycling normal, so cycling's social currency grows, which gets us back to the infrastructure and crowding that ultimate status symbol the car out of the picture... Stuck going nowhere in traffic ain't a good look, no matter what you're driving. And if you're forced to drive to the bypass to get across town then no one in the city centre is going to see and recognise your bigman/woman status anyway.
Posted 8 years ago # -
"Stuck going nowhere in traffic ain't a good look, no matter what you're driving."
You may say so.
I couldn't possibly disagree.
BUT
It's pretty universal across the world - with a few notable exceptions!
Edinburgh really could be another, but there's not nearly enough political will/bravery.
Though as it's the 'middle class' who tend to be the opinion formers/decision makers (plenty in Ed!), who knows??
Posted 8 years ago # -
Only in the UK could cycling be branded simultaneously as being something that only poor people/a wealthy elite do.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Hmm, not sure about that - I think North America has the same issue.
Posted 8 years ago # -
US has the same issue w/regard to sport cyclists maybe, but not the 'vicar/spinster cycling to evensong' aspect -- i.e. utility/commuter cycling by posh folk, which changes the dynamics a little here
Posted 8 years ago # -
Though as it's the 'middle class' who tend to be the opinion formers/decision makers (plenty in Ed!), who knows??
But if there are more "middle class" people firmly attached to their Volvos / Beamer / Mercedes (other European middle manager estates are available) than are cycling I'm not sure you can drive the change from said "middle" class? Perhaps we need the upper classes to tell us what to do, like in the good old days.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Currently on the concourse at KGX waiting for my train home. I can see six Brompton bikes from here: two with female cyclists and four with male (me included). So middle class yes, but male no. I've seen a very pleasing number of bikes of all sorts today, many ridden by women.
Posted 8 years ago # -
Since that post I've seen three more bikes :two more Bromptons and a drop barred bike. All cyclists female. One black. They all still look middle class though.
...just seen another Brompton. Male cyclist. BIG cardboard box on his back.
Posted 8 years ago # -
"bikes of all sorts today, many ridden by women"
Bit like Ed really.
Though I think in both cities there are higher proportions of women 'through the day' than at 'rush' hours, BUT I also think that the m/f ratio has changed quite a lot in recent years.
I can't account for Brompton loving though, must be a middle class thing...!!
Posted 8 years ago # -
A Brompton makes a lot of sense in London - you can do a longer commute on the train and then do the final leg on the bike, avoiding the cost of a zone one season ticket. Most suburban rail won't allow full sized bikes on board in rush hour (and it would be impossible anyway). I'd imagine it would pay for itself in a couple of years.
Dave Hill just doesn't like money being spent on cycling, he's been grumbling about it for ages, hence digging up a 4-year-old report just as the mini-Holland battle hots up in Enfield. Unhelpful
Posted 8 years ago # -
a folder makes sense in London? bromptons may be particularly elegant and efficient examples of folders, but they are also a status symbol.
Posted 8 years ago # -
True, but they do fold very efficiently and compactly. A lot of the cheaper ones just basically go in half. There's no way I'd want to take something much bigger than a folded Brompton on a train going into rushhour in London. But then again, I have one and have drunk the koolaid, so I'm probably biased...
Posted 8 years ago # -
I was struck by high female numbers on the Dublin commute on June 16th when I was on the Liffey main drag waiting for my lift to sandy cove.
I understand the Kingston cOuncil in SW London are on the brink of properly segregating their route through the town centre. At the moment it is a little hairy compared with the route prior to Kingston through Richmond park and then after Kingston on separate path to Hampton court and then on as far as Staines on an off road route including little passenger ferry at shepperton. After Staines there is some bad cycle beside the motorway until beyond Woking but then you have Dave gilmour's boat studio, Runnymede, Windsor great park etc. Maidenhead beside the river, detour to Stanley spencer village or push on to reading? Overnight in thbizarrely named hotel great expectations. No Dickens connection in reading? Sustrans route out of reading is lovely then pretty good most of way to Oxford. I have skipped Etonian land and the big lake we paid for to allow the toffs to go rowing
Posted 8 years ago #
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