The emotional experience of urban cycling and its role for planning - the case of Berlin

Lacombe, Stéphanie-Fabienne (2021) The emotional experience of urban cycling and its role for planning - the case of Berlin. Master thesis.

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Abstract

The cyclist’s emotions play a key role in the perception of urban bike mobility. Berlin provides an interesting case study background as the German capital is undergoing a process of mobility transition encouraging sustainable mobility through the Berlin Mobility Act. Through an emotional mapping tool and semi-structured interviews, the present research finds that anger and fear are experienced as often as enjoyment by cyclists during their ride. The cyclists’ reflection on emotional triggers and ideas for improvement can inspire Berlin’s planners to enhance the cycling experience. The main triggers for cyclists’ negative emotions are mostly car-related (such as car drivers' behaviour; high car traffic intensity; parking cars). The main triggers for positive emotions are green areas/nature/parks, bike speed, a good ground/cycle path, interesting human activities to observe and the absence of cars. Cyclists suggest mainly a general mobility change, no parked cars and ground pavement improvements to enhance their experience, which is partly addressed by academic literature and the Berlin Mobility Act as well. Combining local cyclists' knowledge, academia's meta-view and a paradigm shift towards mobility planning that includes more than infrastructural components results to be key to a more comprehensive mobility planning.

Item Type:	Thesis (Master)
Degree programme:	Society, Sustainability and Planning (MSc Socio-spatial Planning)
Supervisor:	Bahrami, F.
Date Deposited:	19 Aug 2021 09:36
Last Modified:	19 Aug 2021 09:36
URI:	https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/id/eprint/3653

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