Conflicts and accessibility in cycling infrastructure in São Paulo: an analysis of bicycle racks

Abstract

The municipal mobility politics of São Paulo is at a time of transition. Preceded by a history of absolute neglect of urban spaces dedicated to active means of transportation in favor of public investments hegemonicaly associated to the automobiles, the urban mobility situation of São Paulo has changed in the last decade: the city has undergone an intense process of increasing its cycling infrastructure that, for the first time, has interfered with the urban space destined to cars, and that, nevertheless, seems to have lost its magnitude along with the most recent change of municipal management. The transformations that took place in the city denote a fundamental transition in terms of urban mobility: more cycle paths mean more accessibility especially to the low-income population, for whom the bicycle is the least expensive means of transport. However, the cycling infrastructure loses its significance if, along with it, there are no bike racks witch can guarantee easy parking and security to the users, aside from the very necessary integration with the high capacity transport systems. The following research project is based on the analysis of the general situation of cycling mobility in São Paulo, in terms of network constitution and integration with other means of transportation, as well as the analysis of bicycle parking equipment, its quality and accessibility to users. It will also be discussed how the historical differences built around gender roles produce a differentiation in the way each one uses the urban space, what are the specificities and needs of each group when interacting with the city, and what is the importance of considering all genders in urban mobility researches so that urban planning can catch up and be consistent with such differences and recognize the underprivileged social groups. It will also be discussed how the historical differences built around gender roles produce a differentiation in the way each one uses the urban space, what are the specificities and needs of each group when interacting with the city, and what is the importance of considering all genders in urban mobility researches so that urban planning can catch up and be consistent with such differentiations and recognize the underprivileged social groups