Abstract

ARAUJO, Marley Rosana Melo de et al. Riding a bicycle: contributions of a psychological study about mobility. Temas psicol. [online]. 2009, vol.17, n.2, pp. 481-495. ISSN 1413-389X.

As cities get bigger, traffic turns into an urban problem. This study aimed to investigate the characteristics and behavior of people who ride bicycles in Aracaju, intending to discuss bicycle contributions in terms of mobility, accessibility and affordances mediation. 140 subjects were heard, both genders, that live in Orlando Dantas neighborhood. Data was captured house-by-house, with conglomerates in multiple steps sampling draw and structured interviewing technique. After data processing and analysis, it was verified that people who use the bicycle as means of transportation are more exposed to the traffic and require more attention when planning the cycle path system. People who use it as a leisure/sport concentrate their rides around their homes, what makes possible a unique knowledge about peculiarities of the place. It was concluded that, in order to turn the bicycle into an instrument for urban mobility, investments are necessary, which are relatively cheap in this area.

Keywords : Psychology of transit; Urban mobility; Bicycle; Affordances.

        · abstract in Portuguese     · text in Portuguese     · Portuguese ( pdf )