First Advisor

Jennifer Dill

Term of Graduation

Winter 2021

Date of Publication

4-21-2021

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Urban Studies (M.U.S.)

Department

Urban Studies and Planning

Language

English

Subjects

Group identity, Cyclists -- Attitudes, Cycling -- Oregon -- Portland

DOI

10.15760/etd.7546

Physical Description

1 online resource (iv, 89 pages)

Abstract

This study explores bicyclist as a social identity in Portland, OR and a relatively under researched topic in the existing literature about transportation mode choice. The results indicate that bicyclists in Portland do have an understanding of what it means to be a bicyclist and particularly the normative behaviors associated with that social identity. Results also indicate that barriers to entry into this social group are quite low but the path to becoming someone who regularly chooses bicycling as a mode of transportation is not straightforward and is fraught with barriers that could easily discourage new group members. Bicyclists in this study understood their status as a marginal social group compared to other groups of road users but expressed a desire to be seen by others as having the same right to use roadways and for bicycling to be seen as a normal activity. This study ultimately suggests that social identity may be a significant factor in how bicyclists make mode choice decisions and that it should be taken into greater consideration by policy makers who seek to encourage more people to choose bicycling as a mode of transportation.

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In Copyright. URI: http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/ This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s).

Persistent Identifier

https://archives.pdx.edu/ds/psu/35547

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