The development of cycle commuting centres from a social practice perspective Dr Paul Wilson p.s.wilson@salford.ac.uk 14.09.2015
This presentation is designed to: Outline how the development of MediaCityUK highlighted the need for research in the development of cycle commuting centres Align how cycle commuting centres may be viewed as material structures within social practice theory Provide key areas of influence associated with cycle commuting centre design and location 14.09.2015
The MediaCityUK development was based on a 40% non-car travel target 14.09.2015
Proposed plans for the development of a centre by the author in 2009 14.09.2015
The 2015 MediaCityUK Cycle Hub 300 covered cycle parking spaces Standard Premium 24 hours a day Annual £100 £200 CCTV/swipe card entry Monthly £10 £20 Male and female showers and toilets for premium members Heated locker room for premium members 14.09.2015
What is a Cycle Centre? Secure cycle parking, plus at least one of the following: Cycle information + security, travel planning and links to public transport Cycle hire Sale of parts and new cycles Repairs Lockers for storage of clothing and cycle equipment Showers and changing facilities Clothes drying facilities Food and drink (café or vending machines) Cycle cleaning Free use of cycle pump Cycle training Cycle maintenance classes Transport Initiatives (2010). Manchester and Salford Cycle Centres , Report, March 2010. 14.09.2015
Email correspondence with a MediaCityUK development manager outlining issues around access ‘Basically it shows the places on the MCUK site where cycle stands will be provided. As far as I can tell all of these will be outside, which I think helps the case for your project. Have just seen an e-mail from BBC staff who suggest that they wouldn't want to leave bikes outside, but similarly may not want to walk as far as from the pie factory to the BBC buildings! Do you happen to know how far a walk this would be - i.e. be nice if I could quote it as 200m - makes this argument seem less sensible?’ 14.09.2015
The 2015 MediaCityUK Cycle Hub Usage 5 users identified within the Cycle Hub on 09.09.15 8.35am In comparison, 9 users were identified using Sheffield Stands opposite the Cycle Hub on 09.09.15 8.35am 14.09.2015
Using Practice Theory to determine influence of cycle centres Practice as Performance The observable behaviour of individuals Practice as Entity Socially shared ideas and meanings Knowledge and skills Materials and infrastructures Spurling, N., McMeekin, A., Shove, E., Southerton, D. and Welch, D. (2013). Interventions in practice: re-framing policy approaches to consumer behaviour . Accessed at http://www.sprg.ac.uk/uploads/sprg-report-sept-2013.pdf on 13.03.14. 14.09.2015
Practice theory Shove, E. and Pantzar, M. (2005). Consumers, producers and practices: understanding the invention and reinvention of Nordic Walking , Journal of Consumer Culture , 5 (1), pp 43-64. Innovations in practice are about making and breaking links between elements of material, image and skill. We suggest that such linkages are always local and that what looks like the 'diffusion' of practice is better understood as its successive (re)invention 14.09.2015
Golf as an example of practice theory 14.09.2015
Elements of Social Practice associated with cycle commuting Competence - maintenance knowledge, cycling in traffic, route awareness Meaning - Material - environmental, Parking, showers, peer perspectives, road conditions work cultures Adapted from Shove, E., Pantzar, M. and Watson, M. (2012). The dynamics of social practice: everyday life and how it changes . London: Sage. 14.09.2015
From a practice perspective, cycle commuting centres can be viewed as physical entities that have developed to deliver the practices of cycle commuting 14.09.2015
An Example of Substituting Practices: Greater Manchester’s Cycling Hub scheme Each of these elements encourages new recruits to commuter cycling and defection from driving. 14.09.2015
Cycle Commuting Centres visited as part of the research 14.09.2015
Case example: Popup Bikes Manchester 14.09.2015
Centre location Identity As interchanges, the placement of a centre impacts on its capacity to interact with the local environment through its role in a place’s identity and the social/political ‘value’ of the space surrounding it Location High costs associated with central locations within cities are an important variable in this process. Similar to the individual’s residential conundrum, centre providers need to contemplate how reduced costs associated with locating their service away from central points, allowing them to provide competitive financial alternatives to other forms of travel, limits their appeal in terms of accessibility and convenience for the user. 14.09.2015
Influences on Social Ecological Layers Employer Distance + Employee Status + Identity + Residential Affluence Cycling Focussed Proximal + Habit + Convenience + Reliability + Functional + Ability - Ability Non Cycling Focussed - Convenience - Reliability - Functional Distal - Habit - Residential Affluence Intrapersonal - Identity Interpersonal - Employee Status Physical 14.09.2015
Services Competition Centres need to provide services, near the destination, that are able to match or exceed those offered by other forms of transport Pre-Set Centres rely on reconverting space where internal infrastructures (site, shell, structure and skin) were already pre- set intended for other purposes (e.g. work or car parking). This has led to services, e.g. parking, showers, changing areas and lockers lacking coherent pathways for use 14.09.2015
Secure Parking Competences Secure parking impacts on competences negating the need for specialist locks moving competences from the individual into infrastructure or materials as part of the normalisation of practices Usage Individuals prefer the reduced security of street parking if additional non cycle travel is required to reach the final destination 14.09.2015
Secure Parking Appropriation Changing practices to the use of fold up bikes allows cycles to be parked within office spaces countering the use of centres Carriage Legislation improving the carriage of cycles on trains and trams also impacts of practices associated with multi modal travel Value The use of low cost ‘pub bikes’ offsets the need for secure parking centres can offer 14.09.2015
Showers Appearance Shower provision enhanced the individual’s competence to achieve appearance expectations Adaptation Reduced usage by regular cyclists by altering speed of travel and clothing is a good example of how practices are fluid rather than preset . 14.09.2015
Additional Services 14.09.2015
Lifestyle The ‘Romantic’ layout of Popup bikes creates an agglomeration effect where aspects of individual needs are presented in one location resulting in a ‘lifestyle’ approach. The ‘modern/pragmatic’ Manchester hub with bright lighting, predominantly white decor and the feeling of open, unrestricted space with a stronger affiliation to self-service and easy access where customers are predominantly not engaged either emotionally or socially. Pecoraro, M. and Uusitalo, O. (2014).Exploring the everyday retail experience: The discourses of style and design. Journal of Consumer Behaviour. 13 (6), pp 429 – 441. 14.09.2015
Transition Identity Individuals are able to adopt a variety of social identities, which are more or less salient in different political and social situations, for example within the workplace or whilst on the road Conduits Centres are able to act as transition points from the journey to the workplace, where the cycle centre acts a conduit for this change. High visibility clothing and helmets which may be seen as appropriate or inappropriate, or negative or positive, depending upon the social context are able to be removed 14.09.2015
Summary The reduced residency costs living away from city centre employer locations can provide is offset by the individual’s ability to cycle this distance thereby affecting the convenience and financial benefits cycle centres offer. Alternatively, residency located nearer the employer is associated with enhanced levels of affluence and associated car usage. Central city locations for centres are also affected by enhanced financial cost which limits their design and capacity by occupying buildings they were not originally designed for. Despite this, centres are successful in relocating competences from the individual (e.g. security) into material infrastructures whilst also acting as a transition point for a change in social identities from the journey to the workplace that are able to match or exceed those offered by other forms of transport . 14.09.2015
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