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Exploring changes to cycle infrastructure to improve the experience of cycling for families

Clayton, William; Musselwhite, Charles

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Authors

Charles Musselwhite



Abstract

Positive changes to the immediate cycling environment can improve the cycling experience through increasing levels of safety, but little is known about how the intrinsic benefits of cycling might be enhanced beyond this. This paper presents research which has studied the potential benefits of changing the infrastructure within a cycle network - here the National Cycle Network (NCN) in the United Kingdom (UK) - to enhance the intrinsic rewards of cycling. The rationale in this approach is that this could be a motivating factor in encouraging greater use of the cycle network, and consequently help in promoting cycling and active travel more generally amongst family groups. The project involved in-depth research with 64 participants, which included family interviews, self-documented family cycle rides, and school focus groups. The findings suggest that improvements to the cycling environment can help maintain ongoing motivation for experienced cycling families by enhancing novel aspects of a routine journey, creating enjoyable activities and facilitating other incidental experiences along the course of a route, and improving the kinaesthetic experience of cycling. For those less experienced, this can create a legitimacy of space and mode that could help dispel real or imagined safety fears associated with cycling. Despite the potential of these benefits to assist in changing travel behaviour, it is acknowledged that they are not alone a solution to the barriers to greater cycling uptake, and continued development of off-road and specialist cycle networks must continue. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Citation

Clayton, W., & Musselwhite, C. (2013). Exploring changes to cycle infrastructure to improve the experience of cycling for families. Journal of Transport Geography, 33, 54-61. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2013.09.003

Journal Article Type Article
Publication Date Dec 1, 2013
Deposit Date Apr 15, 2013
Publicly Available Date Mar 29, 2024
Journal Journal of Transport Geography
Print ISSN 0966-6923
Publisher Elsevier
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 33
Pages 54-61
DOI https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2013.09.003
Keywords cycling, travel behaviour change, games
Public URL https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/925315
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2013.09.003
Additional Information Additional Information : NOTICE: This is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Journal of Transport Geography. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Journal of Transport Geography, Vol 33, Dec 2013, DOI# 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2013.09.003

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