https://www.bikebiz.com/news/london-cycling-commissioner-sets-sights-on-diversity
CityCyclingEdinburgh Forum » Debate!
‘protected cycleways not yet brought about a shift in cycling's demographics’
(9 posts)-
Posted 5 years ago #
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I really cannot believe the amount of backlash this statement has received on the social meedja in the last couple of days.
Ultimately the problem that all cycle infrastructure is fighting against is one of (lack of) diversity. If every cyclist is an Olympiad then clearly your cycle infrastructure is only of use to elite athletes. If every cyclist is a Business Executive then your cycle infrastructure is connecting expensive houses with expensive offices.
Posted 5 years ago # -
I suppose it's the article's suggestion that infrastructure doesn't work to bring about diversity, we need to try education and onstreet-round-the-houses routes.
Of course what actually was said was that culturally targeted approaches would be required to reach BAME demographics, electric bikes used as a tool for encouraging older demographics and that safety (i.e. segregated routes) was paramount for all.
I suspect the backlash is related to the misreading (or possibly the potential misreading) that segregated routes have failed, and society needs to return to the traditional approaches. And this set against the background where obtaining the segregated routes has been such a struggle and the traditional approaches (on their own) have demonstrably failed over decades...
I confess my first reading of the article was cursory and definitely resulted in a "wait, what did he just say?" reaction. A more careful second reading picked up the true sense, but I can see how it might be picked and propagated by the bike-lash folk and simultaneously result in a reaction from cycling advocates.
Robert
Posted 5 years ago # -
Segregated motorways have been very successful in ensuring a diverse population of motorists. I can't see why any other strategy would be pursued with respect to a thriving and diverse population of bicycle users.
Posted 5 years ago # -
@IwratS - I understand your point, however there do appear to be cultural differences that may need unusual interventions.
I would surmise that UK motorway use is skewed towards white men, and possibly white middle-class men! Evidence for this is left as an exercise for the reader...
However I would offer the gender imbalance between license holders as evidence. Even with men more likely to die younger, men outnumber women as license holders for every age (except for the two people aged 105, where there was one of each!). Beyond this anomaly, women make up no more than 48% of drivers.
Similarly gender (and I guess ethnic/cultural) differences will exist in cyclists, so whilst safe, direct routes will benefit all (and thus are necessary), and indeed should be better than the average UK road for cyclist diversity, they won't automatically reflect the population diversity in and of themselves (i.e. not sufficient).
Even though the flagship segregated routes are necessary, a more holistic approach will be required.
To continue the analogy, motorways are great, but I've got to get along the cart track to the motorway, then bump back off it to get to the school/work.
Botheration, it sounds like I'm arguing against segregation, when I'm really arguing for segregation plus network plus legislation plus...
Robert
Posted 5 years ago # -
A network of continuous, direct, safe cycle routes is the bedrock on which increasing cycle modal share is built.
Yes, there may be some cultural or personal safety barriers to overcome for some groups. However, if people don't feel that they, or people they are responsible for, are safe cycling between home and where they need to be then they will choose another mode.
The fact that cycling in the UK currently requires something of a gung-ho attitude means that it is dominated by fit people, secure in their position in society, with little fear for personal safety and security - generally young/middle aged white guys. A group that also happens to be over-represented in transport policy and engineering circles and senior political roles.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Here's the original article in the Independent, which goes into a bit more detail and nuance than the headline would indicate.
Basically this was all triggered by a Mayoral announcement (and presumably related press conference) of schemes to help bridge the demographic gaps in London's cycling (commuter?) mix.
Posted 5 years ago # -
Posted 5 years ago #
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To me, it just seems dumb.
There are always going to be early adoptors and later adoptors. It makes sense to build the initial paths where they'll get the higher usage, and then expand out from there.
The idea that politicians can "educate people into wanting to cycle" is not something I've seen any evidence for.
Posted 5 years ago #
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