Incompetent or Too Competent? Negotiating Everyday Cycling Identities in a Motor Dominated Society

Rachel Aldred

Mobilities, 2013, vol. 8, issue 2, 252-271

Abstract: This article uses the concept of stigma to explore cycling identities in the UK. Drawing on interview data, it argues that people who cycle are caught between two threats: appearing too competent as a cyclist (a 'proper cyclist'), and appearing not competent enough (a 'bad cyclist'). Strategies of identity management are discussed, which can include elements of negotiation, disavowal and challenge. The article aims to show that transport modes can produce disadvantaged and stigmatised social identities: like other forms of stigma these are mediated both by social environments and by other social identities. Implications for policy and advocacy are suggested.

Date: 2013
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (27)

Downloads: (external link)
http://hdl.handle.net/10.1080/17450101.2012.696342 (text/html)
Access to full text is restricted to subscribers.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:taf:rmobxx:v:8:y:2013:i:2:p:252-271

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.tandfonline.com/pricing/journal/rmob20

DOI: 10.1080/17450101.2012.696342

Access Statistics for this article

Mobilities is currently edited by Professor Kevin Hannam, Professor Mimi Sheller and Professor John Urry

More articles in Mobilities from Taylor & Francis Journals
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Chris Longhurst ().