Where and how tucsonans ride and implications for cycling infrastructure

Abstract

Transportation planning focuses on access to destinations, getting from point A to B. Yet, cycling does more and creates a connection between the cyclist and movements during the journey. Drawing from cycling ethnographic work, I use video recordings of three groups of cyclists, commuter, recreational, and athletic, in Tucson, AZ, to contextualize their movements and interactions with the built environment, drivers, and other cyclists. Cycling can be utilitarian for commuters and a social, leisure, and athletic activity for recreational and athletic riders. Depending on their reason for riding, cyclists utilize infrastructure to suit their needs and protect themselves from drivers. Confidence levels also influence where and how people ride. Commuters rode defensively and sought out less-trafficked facilities. Recreational riders rode solo on paths and in groups on open roads. Athletic riders claimed space from drivers by riding in packs while being mindful of group safety. Video ethnography helps improve the understanding of the different reasons for cycling and those experiences. With this information, planners can provide more accurate maps and overcome pushback from some cyclists by designing infrastructure accordingly—such as providing both a path and bicycle lane along the same corridor to serve various cycling needs. © 2022 The Author(s). This open access article is distributed under a Creative Commons Attribution (CC-BY) 4.0 license.