eprintid: 4172
rev_number: 6
eprint_status: archive
userid: 1
dir: disk0/00/00/41/72
datestamp: 2023-05-02 10:07:23
lastmod: 2023-05-02 10:07:23
status_changed: 2023-05-02 10:07:23
type: thesis
metadata_visibility: show
sword_depositor: 1
creators_name: Kolodziejczyk, Albert
creators_id: S3697150
creators_email: a.kolodziejczyk@student.rug.nl
title: Bicycle (Revolution) Thieves - Exploring barriers to modal shift to cycling in Milan
ispublished: unpub
full_text_status: public
abstract: Sustainable mobility is a crucial element to combat the climate crisis. A readily available and
overwhelmingly beneficial tool to start with is cycling. However, only two countries have
managed to embrace cycling as a widespread modal choice – The Netherlands and Denmark.
This paper aims at discovering what are the barriers that prevent modal shift to cycling, which
barriers are prevalent and what are their underlying causes. Next, it aims at exploring possible
solutions to overcoming it. The theoretical framework for this study is rooted in transition
theory and the fundamental role of policy as a catalyst of transition to sustainable mobility.
Moreover, the Banister’s classification of barriers to sustainable mobility serves as a roadmap
to predict possible barriers. To address set aims, a qualitative research method is designed
based on in-depth interviews with eight experts in a study case of Milan, Italy. The results
show that the primary barrier to modal shift to cycling is the inability to limit cars, which is
caused by a socio-political effect of car dependency. These findings transgress initial
framework. To illustrate this relationship, a new model called “socio-political vicious cycle of
car-dependency” is created, which, on the example of Milan, illustrates how increased car
usage leads to marginalisation of other modes, including cycling, and to a further growth of
car dependency. The underlying causes for this process are found to be related to the power
disbalance which corresponds to the spatial theory and the dominance of the conventional
paradigm of mobility. This paper recommends engaging in creation of new popular local
visions of sustainable mobility, involving residents and other stakeholders. This can undermine
the dominance of conventional mobility paradigm, allowing for pro-cycling coalition to form
and change the power landscape in order to permanently dismantle car-dependency.
date: 2023
pages: 65
thesis_type: master
degree_programme: SP
tutors_name: Cordero Vinueza, V.A.
tutors_organization: Fac. Ruimtelijke wetenschappen, Basiseenheid Planologie
tutors_email: v.a.cordero.vinueza@rug.nl
security: public
keywords_local: Sustainable Mobility
keywords_local: Transition
keywords_local: Milan
keywords_local: Cycling
keywords_local: Barriers
language_iso: en
date_issued: 2023-04-28
citation:   Kolodziejczyk, Albert  (2023) Bicycle (Revolution) Thieves - Exploring barriers to modal shift to cycling in Milan.  Master thesis.   
document_url: https://frw.studenttheses.ub.rug.nl/4172/1/Final_draft_Albert.pdf