Off the Computer and Into the Saddle: Local Cycling Media and Community Engagement

Off the Computer and Into the Saddle: Austin Cycling Media and Community Engagement Chris McConnell University of Texas at Austin IAMCR, Braga, July 2010

The Project
Austin has seen the emergence of a few large casual bicycle rides in recent years
Participation in bicycle-advocacy has increased
What role have local cycling-oriented media such as blogs and ‘zines played in this?

The Study
Semi-structured interviews with 25 cyclists
Approached at two large rides, Critical Mass and Thursday Night Social ride
Subjects were queried about media use, social ties, participation in lobbying or advocacy
Additional 18 months of participant observation

Bicycles
Low-cost form of transportation
Minimal environmental impact
Lack of enclosure improves sociality
Sometimes difficult to integrate into motorized transport infrastructure
US is particularly bike-hostile

Austin, Texas
State Capital of Texas
Home to University of Texas
786,382 population, 1,705,075 metro
Doubled in size in approx. 25 years
About 118,000 university-level students
Youthful population
Faces substantial transportation and planning problems

Cycling in Austin
Long home to a transportation cycling community
Lance Armstrong is a local hero
>1% of commutes are done by bike, about twice US average
Silver-level rating from League of American Bicyclists
Many streets have bike lanes or other accommodations, but no integrated network

A typology of Cycling
Sport
Rides for exercise, competition
Transportation
Commuting, shopping, utility
Casual
Rides for fun, some exercise or utility
This paper is primarily interested in Transportation and Casual cyclists

Austin Cycling Media
ATXBS.com: blog listing casual rides with some commentary
BicycleAustin.info: advocacy site with forum and email list
Social Cycling ATX: spread across social media platforms like Facebook, Tumblr, and Twitter
The Dropout: print ‘zine on bike culture
Variety of personal blogs, organizations

Critical Mass
Monthly civil disobedience ride in rush-hour, performed in cities worldwide
Performed since 1991
Attracts about 75-80 cyclists in Austin
Furness (2009) performative/embodied communication practice.
“ It’s kind of an outlaw ride,” Al, 60

“ There’s something really empowering about riding with a big group of people. It’s a thrill you can’t get anywhere else.” -Melissa, 19
Critical Mass

Thursday Night Social Ride
Weekly casual ride, ends at bars
Began in 2008 by Social Cycling ATX
Organized and promoted through Facebook
Participants are expected to follow traffic laws, stop at red lights.
Draws as many as 300 riders in nice weather
Not overtly political, but engages in some advocacy

Thursday Night Social Ride
“ The more rides like this, the better image we have. The more rides like this the safer it will be for everyone.”
Keith, TNSR organizer

Other Rides in Austin
Midnite Ridazz
Skellies
Tuesday Night Yoga Ride
World Naked Bike Ride
Full Moon Cruise

Information about Rides
Although SCATX and ATXBS broadcast ride announcements, most subjects indicated that they knew where and when rides started
New riders said they discovered rides through these sites.
Many riders said they learned of rides through friends.

Subjects on ATXBS
ATXBS was almost the only blog mentioned by subjects.
“ It’s definitely created a sense of community.” - Sara, 28
“ There’s always a different ride.” - Joseph, 28
Enjoy irreverent tone, presence of editor on rides

Bike Media
“ Biking is kind of like an outdoor thing while the Internet is kind of a sit-on-your-ass thing.” Melissa, 19, “addict”
Most subjects said they did not go online to learn about cycling or bikes.
In fact, many subjects just thought this was strange
Few reported going online for information about bicycle advocacy

Motivations for Participation
Social Capital/Community
Participants go to rides to see friends meet new people, be around other cyclists
“ I just like the social aspect of cycling; it’s just a real positive vibe.” - Troy, 60
Identity
“ Everyone doesn’t have to be the power-bar eating, spandex kind of biker.” - Rachel, 28

Politics and Advocacy
Few subjects reported the desire to make a political statement as a reason for participating, even in Critical Mass
Few subjects claimed to have an interest in bike advocacy, although they would like to see more bike lanes, better police treatment, etc.
Still bike-related political events see good turnout

Conclusions
The regular casual rides seem to be mostly about the formation and maintenance of social capital
Batterbury (2003) advocacy as social network rather than social movement, single-issue emphasis
Influential bike blogs like ATXBS can use their social captial to deploy cyclists for advocacy purposes

Further Directions and Questions
Conduct interviews at city forums and advocacy events
More interviews with media producers.
The local bike media does seem to have an influence over this bike community, yet the bikers don’t talk about it.
How is it that they influence this group?

Off the Computer and Into the Saddle: Local Cycling Media and Community Engagement

by Chris McConnell

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