Bike-sharing under pressure: The role of cycling in building circular cycling futures. (1st April 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Henriksson, Malin; Göransson Scalzotto, Joel
• Is Part Of: Journal of cleaner production. Volume 395(2023)
• Publication Date: 2023-04-01
• Subjects: Bike-sharing -- Bike kitchens -- Sustainable mobility -- Commercialization -- Professionalization; Factory and trade waste -- Management -- Periodicals; Manufactures -- Environmental aspects -- Periodicals; Déchets industriels -- Gestion -- Périodiques; Usines -- Aspect de l'environnement -- Périodiques; 628.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2023.136368
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-6526

Abstract

Abstract: Bike-sharing could play an important role in any future circular economy since sharing solutions have the potential to challenge the current automobility regime. This paper examines the potential contributions of two Swedish bike-sharing initiatives: grassroots-initiated bike kitchens and a commercial bike-sharing service system. We explore and analyze the visions of these initiatives and how they can be nurtured in order to support a circular future. The results indicate that the incumbent regime challenges cycling initiatives through commercialization and professionalization pressures. The paper notes that the studied initiatives can contribute to a future circular economy, but in different ways. While bike kitchens support the social aspects of circularity, commercial bike-sharing is more likely to support ecological aspects. Both kinds of initiatives are crucial and rely on the support of public actors with a strong sustainability agenda.