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Cyclists as Part of the City's Organism: Structural Stories on Cycling in C openhagen
Author(s) -
FREUDENDALPEDERSEN MALENE
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
city and society
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.308
H-Index - 25
eISSN - 1548-744X
pISSN - 0893-0465
DOI - 10.1111/ciso.12051
Subject(s) - contest , praxis , cycling , everyday life , mobilities , sociology , aesthetics , political science , history , art , social science , law , archaeology
This article examines C openhagen cyclists' emotional and “rational” stories about cycling in the city. C openhagen is branded as a city of cyclists; nevertheless, the car still plays a dominant role in both policy and planning and thus everyday life. This shapes cyclists' stories as well as their praxis. This paper reveals how C openhagen cyclists contest the role of the car but simultaneously support the automobile system that privileges cars over bikes through their narrations and praxis. This article employs the concept “structural stories” ( F reudendal‐ P edersen 2009) to reveal how particular rationales are used to explain everyday actions and choices. Structural stories are understood and expressed as universal truths, and as such they create paths for mobilities praxis. The stories also reveal contradictions in the image of C openhagen and the way that people actually live and move through the city. The article draws on empirical data compiled from several research projects on mobilities in C openhagen between 2007 and 2013. It suggests ways to further engender cycling in the city.