Cyclists as Part of the City's Organism: Structural Stories on Cycling in Copenhagen

• Published in: City & society Vol. 27; no. 1; pp. 30 - 50
• Main Author: FREUDENDAL-PEDERSEN, MALENE
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.04.2015
• Subjects: Automobiles; Choices; Cities; Copenhagen; Copenhagen, Denmark; cycling; Denmark; Everyday Life; mobilities; Planning methods; Research projects; structural stories; Truth
• ISSN: 0893-0465; 1548-744X
• DOI: 10.1111/ciso.12051

This article examines Copenhagen cyclists' emotional and “rational” stories about cycling in the city. Copenhagen 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 Copenhagen 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” (Freudendal‐Pedersen 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 Copenhagen 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 Copenhagen between 2007 and 2013. It suggests ways to further engender cycling in the city.