The status and politics of bicycling in the cities of low- and middle-income countries.

ABSTRACT: Bicycling is promoted in low- and middle-income countries to reduce emissions and improve public health. However, transportation policies often replicate built infrastructure logics from high-income countries, with limited attention to local bicyclists' experiences and contextual realities. Here, drawing on intercept surveys, semi-structured interviews and ethnographic observations in cities of four low- and middle-income countries, we examine the current state of bicycling and user-perceived barriers. We find that bicycling is largely undertaken by low-income adult men, while women and children cycle mainly within neighborhood enclaves. We identify impediments beyond physical infrastructure, including financial systems, maintenance networks, manufacturing and design capacities, and social

SUBMITTER: Kannan SB 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7618767 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature