Abandoning the Car to Embrace the Bicycle in Urban France: A Model of Modal Shift for Daily Commuting Routines

Marion Gras Gentiletti (), Béatrice Cahour and Stéphane Safin
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Marion Gras Gentiletti: Ergonomics Department, CRTD, Conservatoire National des Arts et Métiers, 75003 Paris, France
Béatrice Cahour: I3 UMR 9217, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute of Innovation, ESS Department, Télécom Paris and Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91120 Palaiseau, France
Stéphane Safin: I3 UMR 9217, CNRS, Interdisciplinary Institute of Innovation, ESS Department, Télécom Paris and Institut Polytechnique de Paris, 91120 Palaiseau, France

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 2, 1-34

Abstract: The current climate context is prompting a reconsideration of transportation modes, with the bicycle offering significant benefits, including reduced emissions, noise pollution, and urban congestion and improved public health. Despite policies encouraging cycling, many urban French citizens struggle to adopt it. Rather than focusing on barriers, this study examines individuals who have reduced or abandoned car use in favor of cycling in urban areas. The study describes the modal shift process of 20 individuals from four cities in France, with diverse socio-economic backgrounds and ages. Through semi-structured, biographical interviews, key stages in the transition are identified: predispositions, triggering factors, exploration and trial, and long-term appropriation. The article also explores situations where cyclists revert to car use for specific trips. Findings reveal favorable conditions for cycling but also highlight challenges, offering insights that could influence urban planning policies in France.

Keywords: bicycle; sustainable mobility; modal shift; transport; city; ergonomics; sustainable transition (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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