Reverse engineering cycling culture using stakeholders’ perceptions of well-established examples: Insights from Enschede and Münster

Bicycles are recognized as a sustainable alternative for urban mobility. However, social, political, and physical
barriers are faced by cities when trying to promote cycling. A combination of elements defined as cycling culture
seems to determine the acceptance and massive use of bicycles as a mode of transportation. Thus, it is critical to
understand what factors shape bicycle culture and how they relate to each other to explore opportunities and
better use the available resources to achieve sustainability. This study aims to create an explanatory framework
of cycling culture, using the general concept of reverse engineering, by analyzing well-developed examples of
such a culture. To do so, the perceptions of selected stakeholders in Enschede (The Netherlands) and Münster
(Germany) were evaluated. Our approach considered three main steps: (I) defining an operational framework to
serve as a reference for the cycling culture; (II) identifying the perceptions of local stakeholders through interviews; (III) characterizing cycling culture from the comparison of cases. The results indicated that bicycle
culture represents a combination of a positive mindset toward cycling and continuous, long-term policies
creating a favorable environment for cyclists. However, we also observed variations indicating that cycling
culture can follow at least two different models: one with institutional support and the other with a consolidated
social and environmental base.