The Variations of Pedalling: Moving experiences and body practices of the cyclists in Taipei City
Date Issued
2011
Date
2011
Author(s)
Sung, En-Yi
Abstract
Although a large number of studies have been made on leisurization of cycling, little is known about the cycling experiences in daily life. In this study, the main argument falls on the importance of daily movements by cycling. To borrow Donna J. Haraway’s concept of “Cyborg”, I use the term “Cyclists” to refer to whose embody the spatial subjectivities by cycling in their mobile practices.
I focus on the people in Taipei City who use bicycles as their main way of moving. First I discuss “the body while cycling” and consider the body experiences about the space of transport system, especially the bike-lanes. Then I concern “the body with bicycle”, arguing that possibility of bicycle can be a part of the body and becoming a “Cyclist”. Cyclists use bicycles to change the limit of the original body’s ability and get their mobility from this low-tech vehicle.
In conclusion, there are three points in the study. One is to suggest that body experience can be an inspiring approach of analyzing cycling issues, in addition to health or environment. Another is to show Cyclists present more effective and powerful mobility than other vehicles in the city, by easily switching their body boundary between human and bicycle. Also, this kind of mobile switch is an extension of body ability, and Cyclists release their restrictions and present their agency by the ambiguity of cyclists’ hybrid essences make them transfer easily between body and bicycle in their daily moving practices.
Subjects
cyborg
cyclist
embodiment
bike-lane
Taipei City
SDGs
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