The role of infrastructure
To understand the role of the physical infrastructure in increasing the cycling levels, Hull and O’Holleran (2014) compare coherence, directness, attractiveness, safety and comfort of the bicycle network in six cities throughout the UK and the Netherlands. The research concludes that the design of bicycle infrastructure involves several spatial and behavioural factors; at a government level, policy must create the foundation for making motorised vehicles less necessary and convenient, while cycle promotion, at the local level, must integrate across policy levels, throughout spatial planning, transport, health and education, not just physical infrastructure. The study finds that good infrastructural design does encourage
…show more content…
In the London-based case study (Steinbach et al., 2011) of how gendered, ethnic and class identities can shape healthy transport choices, it is shown that although Transport for London (TfL) spends resources on advertising to depict cycling as the healthiest choice, it only influences a small number of the citizens of London. Drawing on qualitative interview data with 78 individuals, it is shown how cycling as a ‘healthy choice’ mainly reaches well-educated white men. It digs in to the identity associated with cycling and how this is seen (in a London context) of something associated with road danger and aggression, while the aesthetics and symbolic goals of cycling are less appealing to those with other class, gender and ethnic identities. After 20 years of ‘pro-cycling’ policies in the UK, cycling is still not considered ‘normal’. Aldred (2013) explores the stigma related to cycling identities in the UK by drawing on interview data with 55 cyclists, showing how they are caught in-between appearing too competent and not competent enough. The cultural norms of the larger community are seen to influence the individual behaviour, also when it come to the behaviour of cyclists, and who chooses to identify themselves as cyclists. The study points at helmets and high-visibility clothing as being the‘uniform’, that some cyclists wear to look competent to other road users, and to fit in with the other cyclists. Aldred (2013) points out that the identity as a cyclist is highly stigmatised, both by other road users, as well as within the cycling community. Furthermore, Aldred points to how selling cycling as ‘healthy’ and ‘sporty’ may not resonate well with those who do not define themselves as neither healthy nor
In this article, Dowsett uses the analogy of a bike argue his connotation when a white person is bombard by the term white privilege. Lastly, the author is trying to reach out to white people that the next time someone try to use the term “white privilege” remember they aren’t calling you a racist, they just want you to try empathize with how scary it is to be on a bike sometimes. One point I notice that the author is debating is about how the system allows discrimination to happen in analogy to how driver has more “privileges” over the biker. An example is how the rode is made for both cars and bikes, but when a car comes zooming by not realizing how frightening it may put a cyclist in danger they only see the road from the privileged perspective of a car. In another instance the author uses is the snowy weather. The fact that when it snows the snow in the street are being push over to the bike lane not realizing that cyclist exist. Another topic that caught my attention while reading the article is how Dowsett paints a picture of a nice
This essay has detailed several examples of how social order is made and remade on City Road and the everyday challenges that social order faces. Firstly, it begins with identifying how social order is challenged and how people perceive social order and moves on to look at both formal and informal ways of making and remaking social order. The essay concludes by identifying the expectations of how people should behave and the consequences when disorder occurs, continuing the making and remaking of
Goulding and Saren’s publication of Performing identity: an analysis of gender expressions at the Whitby Goth festival has equally given a clear critique of the nature of gender identities within a specific subculture, a subculture firmly rooted in objects of consumption and bonded together by a common fascination with the vampire. Globalisation is now recognised as a key factor in influencing young people. There have been many connections established between identity and living in a global society. Giddens (1991) suggests that globalisation can be defined as ‘the intensification of worldwide social relations which link distant localities in such a way that local happenings are shaped by events occurring many miles away and vice versa’. Social analyst Beck discusses the issue of young people living and growing up in a world of risk and uncertainty (Beck, 1992; 2000)....
The great changes in American society that came with the introduction bicycle in the late 19th century are often overshadowed by the influence of the automobile in the following decades. Today, bicycles are often seen as an alternative mode of transportation - a cleaner and more environmentally conscious form of travel. Because of this, it may be difficult to realize the incredible modernizing effects that bicycles had on American society when they were first introduced. Manufacturing and marketing techniques introduced by the bicycle industry were massive steps towards modern industrial practices. In addition, by making individual travel available to many people for the first time, bicycles changed the speed at which life flowed in much of America. Bicycles granted a degree of personal freedom of mobility to many for the first time, and their effect on the women's rights movement of the time was notable. Bicycles were used in war, by police, and by the postal service, among others. In countless walks of life, the availability of personal travel offered by bicycles had an incredible impact on American society.
Lately, there is a decrease in the trust of governments and their decisions and it is time to change this back. As Jane Jacobs writes in her book, The Death and Life of Great American Cities (1961), “Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” Her argument being, that citizens who are engaged in activities contribute to cities vitality and without vitality, a city loses its sense of place and priorities. In terms of transportation it is time for citizens to set and get the priorities of local transit and transportation issues back into the public’s interest. Regardless of the mode of mobility, local transportation is built to be used and utilized by the general public and not detested and neglected.
Newspaper articles, including those shown here, are targeted towards bikie clubs and will only show them in a negative light. This example of The Sunday Mail front page bears the headline, “Jail ‘Em All,” with the caption “Newman’s vow to Destroy Bikies.” Clearly the writers for The Sunday Mail have a profound view on bikies as a whole and are willing to spread this bias onto their readers. By using the title “Jail ‘Em All,” the paper aims to portray that all bikies are criminals and all should be jailed, which is obviously inaccurate. Another article shown here featured on the front cover of Herald Sun, “Bikies Go To War.” This is obviously against the motorcycle clubs mentioned and aims to scare the public into associating all bikies as being violent, gun-wielding members of society, which is simply not true. This table shows that in less than two months, The Courier/Sunday Mail released 15 articles relating to bikies. Most of these articles focus on the police crackdown on bikie gangs after the introduction of the VLAD legislation, but contained very little new information. Newspapers are not the only ones responsible for giving bikers a bad name, TV programs also show the groups in an incredibly bad
The concepts 'Social Control' and 'Deviance' have more than one definition to me, my understandings of these terms are that they try to group, control and define different kinds of anti-social behaviour. In this essay I will be reflecting on how certain topics have deviant labels attached to them as a result of social control. I will be explaining my initial understanding and views of these topics, going on to explain how they may have been changed, challenged or reinforced after attending lectures and using the sources available to me to expand my knowledge. Also, I will be using evidence from texts I have read to support these views and considering how these contribute to the inner-relationship between 'deviance' and social control. The key topics I will be demonstrating this with are Teenage Mothers, Eugenics, Deviant Bodies and The Cultural Degeneration of Travellers. These topics highlight key areas in which deviant labels are attached to groups of people by social control and how society has tried to control people's views in order to separate class and be in command of what should be seen as acceptable behaviour.
I writing to raise my concerns about an article you recently published written by Mr Liddle. It is clear that his opinions aren’t only wrong but ludicrous! Cycling is a vastly loved and popular recreational hobby. Consequently he has managed to insult a good proportion of the cycling community with his sarcastic and, frankly, offensive comments. Throughout the article he has unfairly criticised the behaviour of cyclists on our roads, blaming them for any accident involving a cyclist and totally ignoring any culpability on the part of the driver.
The social impact of this initiative is expected to create some controversy from present day commuters and users or residents of affected roads and city blocks. Technological barriers for a bike system in the Greater Victoria Area are quite small, as no “cutting edge” technology is required for this smart initiative. Environmental factors to consider is the physical characteristics of the local geography and its impact in constructing additional bike lanes and additional required traffic infrastructure.
The primary purpose of pedestrian and bicyclist research is to reduce injuries and fatalities by better understanding the causes of pedestrian/bicyclist fatalities, by identifying and evaluating potential safety improvement measures, to foster public awareness of pedestrian and bicycle safety matters, and to provide resources for use at the national and local levels. There has been a plethora of research completed over the years concerning cycling and pedestrian safety. In the United States, society seems to overlook the problems with the current pedestrian, cyclist traffic and safety systems. The National Highway Society reports that the above is accurate and our society does face a significant problem with pedestrian and cyclist safety.
In confirmation, Canberra has constantly been voted on the world’s most liveable cities over the past few years. However, if Canberra was to continue as one of the world’s most liveable cities and become a more vibrant city that is loved by its residents and the visitors that it attracts, there will need to be a greater focus on human scale development, transport choice; not just cars, public meeting places, connected pedestrian and cycle networks and greater housing choice; not only detached houses on individual blocks or apartments, but more townhouses, terrace houses, cohousing and supportive housing. Focusing on places for its residents, and ensuring that the overriding aim of putting people first in the design of any new place or developments, would support a more vibrant and active
The 1900’s brought the invention of cars, and the bike sales dropped dramatically. But since the 1960s and 1970’s, air pollution, and the need for physical fitness have prompted many people to choose bike riding as a form of exercise and transportation, and the biking industry has exploded. The advantages of bikes are far greater than any other types of transportation: they’re cheap, they’re fast, they don’t pollute the planet and they’re enjoyable to ride and provide greater physical activity that leads to better health.
July 4th 2012 it's 4 AM I am awake getting ready for the car journey to killarney I look outside's pitch black inky dark and bitter cold I'm up my bike is ready my tyres were checked I put on my cycling gear struggle to find safety pins to clip on my number my passport for the race the journey to Killarney is strange we leave at 4:30 AM my dad is driving me the roads are extremely busy for the time of morning I arrive in Killarney 5:30 in the morning the town is buzzing there are people everywhere I make my way to the sign on area there are people of all nationalities there as I begin to sign on a large group of Spanish cyclists arrive I finish signing on at roughly the same time as them and I begin talking to them as we leave Killarney cycling
In Vawter’s article there is a clear understanding of why she doesn’t want the same incident to happen to her own daughter and states “I don’t let my own nine-year-old ride her bike alone but you better believe when she is older I will, because up until my crash it was my favorite thing to do ever.”(Vawter). The author is so traumatised from the incident that she wouldn’t let her daughter ride a bike on her own. Although these teenage boys ruined the amusement of riding a bike for the author, it does not mean that her daughter will never have the opportunity to experience the same joy. Vawter’s article also tackles some of the common arguments that women are asking for problems when they wear revealing clothing. After the accident that she had on her bike, her parents questioned her saying, “What were you wearing?” attempting to blame the accident on Vawter. This is a common misconception that women are dressing the way they are to catch men’s attention, which is bullshit because Vawter shows that it does not matter what you wear when she explains her appearance during the incident,“ I was a total nerd. I was tall for my age, around five foot seven by the time I was 11, long hair … and a mouthful of shiny metal braces and headgear complimented by a shirt my parents had made at a mall kiosk, a giant pair of lips and glitter on a decal that read Tin Grins Are In”(Vawter). The author is stating her appearance during the situation, telling the reader that she wasn’t dressed in skin tight jeans or revealing clothing. This shows that women are still targeted no matter how they appear or what they are doing, it 's not their fault. On the other hand, the logos in Lewak’s article aggravates the reader due to the lack of knowledge on the topic, she claims that “catcalls are
As technology has improved over time the use of bicycles has decreased. Before the motor vehicle revolution bicycles were a great type of transport as it was effective for the simplicity of the design. For a person who can not afford a motor vehicle and travels on a daily basis the bicycle is one of their best options for travel. This is shown particularly in Asian countries, in Asian cities and other cities across the world the bicycle can be seen as a more effective way of transportation as they are easier to park, would not normally have to pay to park it somewhere and can be just as quick or even quicker than traveling by car due to the amount of people in cars on the road. In suburbean area's or country towns unless traveling a short distance the bicycle is not regularly seen as an option, various types of public and private transport are seen as more efficient alternatives.