How do Female Cyclists Perceive Different Cycling Environments? - A photo-elicitation study in Stockholm, Sweden

Abstract

This paper aims to identify and investigate the perceptions of less frequent female cyclists’, defined as not cycling year-around or daily, of different cycling environments in Stockholm. Previous studies have shown that although Sweden has a high level of gender equality, it has a relatively lower number of female cyclists. Therefore, this study aspires to better understand how this group of women reason when they choose certain cycling paths to facilitate cycling infrastructure and planning from a gendered perspective. This is done by examining what impacts females’ decisionmaking when practising cycling. Several barriers have previously been identified by previous research, such as traffic safety, social safety, and physical barriers. Yet these barriers are subject to personal perception. To investigate these perceptions, a semi-structured photo-elicitation interview method was used. Using social practice theory as an analytical framework, the analysis showed that greenery, in combination with isolation or poor lighting, seasonality, narrow, and nonseparated cycle path and elevated routes were regarded as difficult impacting female’s decisionmaking. Furthermore, the analysis uncovered two themes which were lesser explored by previous studies: racial discrimination, and the difficulty of wearing religious attire when cycling. Both could be a topic of future research to make sure females of all cultural, religious, or ethical backgrounds feel comfortable cycling. This research is significant to further facilitate cycling and urban planning policies, as it has identified different barriers that could have an impact on female cyclists’ behaviour as well as having explored cultural and socio-demographic factors.