Urban bicycling as a human right to active mobility in the city of sao paulo

Abstract

Urban bicycling is a recent phenomenon valued as an alternative to individual transportation by motor vehicles. This article looks into the educational processes of urban bicycling that resulted from the social practice of bicycling activism in the city of Sao Paulo. We conducted four interviews with people who live and use bicycles in that city. The methodological trajectory followed Phenomenology’s view on situated phenomena. In the construction of results, the units of meaning a) fight for recognition of the right to enjoy territory by bicycle; b) solidarity with others in safe sharing of public roads; c) perception of the environment; and d) communication of the bicycling activist movement resulted in the category “Pedaling as a human right to active mobility in the city”. We found that, despite the legitimate process of dialogue, the demands of bicycling activism are not highly incorporated into public policies for urban mobility due to lack of institutional representation.