Different spokes for different folks: experiences with cycling and the bicycle from the perspective of variably-housed cyclists in Vancouver

Bicycling is celebrated for being sustainable, healthy, and economical, and it has become popularised among urbanites in many cities. Literature on mobility and urban development tends to reflect these values, as do policies on transportation and sustainability in cities like Vancouver - where the bicycle's role as a sustainable leisure activity and commuting strategy is commonly promoted. Often unrecognised in this literature and in policy are the many people experiencing homelessness, who sometimes cycle as their only transportation option, and who may ride bicycles for reasons that do not fit neatly in a leisure-commuter dichotomy. Responding to this gap, the study reported in this paper was concerned with discovering what cycling means to variably-housed people who ride bicycles in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside neighbourhood, and how these meanings align (or do not align) with common depictions of cycling and cyclists in existing research and policy. Drawing from a set of in-depth (and sometimes 'ride-along') interviews, results indicated that participants cycled for a variety of reasons, including for informal work (recycling) and for personal mobility when walking proved difficult. Interviewees focused on the value of the bicycle for personal mobility and as a health aid, while expressing little attachment to their bicycles due to theft. By focusing on cycling-related practices and identities that exist outside the leisure-commuter dichotomy and with unique relationships with this dichotomy, this study informs literature concerning cycling and (in)equity, while highlighting the need for policy developments that account for the range of cycling identities.

Automated summary

Cycling is often promoted as a sustainable, healthy, and economical mode of transportation. However, existing literature and policies often overlook the situation of homeless individuals who rely on cycling as their primary means of transportation for various reasons, not limited to leisure or commuting. This study, based on in-depth interviews, found that cyclists in Vancouver's Downtown Eastside neighborhood had diverse reasons for cycling, including informal work and personal mobility. They emphasized the value of bicycles for personal mobility and health, but expressed little attachment due to concerns of theft.