Performing the city

A body and a bicycle take on Birmingham, UK

Bibliographic Data

ID3977208
AuthorsPhil Ian Jones (0000-0001-6455-1184, University of Birmingham, corresponding author), Phil Jones (0000-0001-5173-3245)
Year2005
Volume6
Issue6
Pages813-830
Publication date2005-12-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocial & Cultural Geography (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1464-9365 • E-ISSN: 1470-1197
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/14649360500353046
OpenAlexW2027171909
LanguageEN
Citations received86
References cited32

This paper brings the debate on sustainable transport policy into direct confrontation with the embodied practice of cycling in a highly urbanized environment. Using the example of a regular journey to work the author undertook in Birmingham, UK during the summer of 2003, Lees' notion of a more performative approach to understanding architecture is extended to a performance of the wider city. Tracing in detail the practice of this journey, the paper uses the notion of affect to highlight the sheer physicality of the bike ride and how the city is thus remade through the cyclist's experiences. This performative understanding is contrasted with more traditional understandings of the city, illustrating how the two reinforce each other. Ultimately the question is posed of whether the thrills and chills of urban cycling in the UK will leave it as a marginalized transport mode for the foreseeable future, despite noises from policy makers about using cycling to solve problems of urban congestion and sustainability. Interpréter la ville: une prise de vue de Birmingham, RU par le corps et à vélo Cet article pousse le débat qui entoure la politique sur le transport durable sur le terrain de la confrontation avec la pratique matérielle du cyclisme en milieu hautement urbanisé. En prenant l'exemple du trajet de la maison au travail à Birmingham, RU que l'auteur a entrepris à l'été 2003, la notion d'une approche plus performative à la compréhension des questions d'architecture de Lees est poussée plus loin jusqu'à une interprétation à l'échelle de l'ensemble de la ville. La description détaillée de la pratique de ce trajet, cet article fait ressortir, à partir de la notion d'affect, l'aspect purement physique du trajet à vélo ainsi que la façon dont la ville est remodelée par les expériences que vit le cycliste. Cette conception performative et les manières traditionnelles de concevoir la ville sont contrastées, et permet ainsi de montrer comment ils se complètent. La question est finalement proposée à savoir si les sensations fortes et les frissons que provoque le vélo dans les villes britanniques contribueront dans un avenir prévisible à marginaliser ce mode de transport, bien que certains responsables politiques discutent du cyclisme comme solution de rechange aux problèmes de circulation urbaine et de durabilité. Interrelación con la ciudad: un cuerpo y una bicicleta desafían a Birmingham, Inglaterra Este papel pone frente a frente el debate sobre la política de transporte sostenible y la práctica de ir en bicicleta por un medio urbanizado. Usando el ejemplo de un viaje habitual al trabajo que el autor realizaba en Birmingham, Inglaterra durante el verano del año 2003, la idea de Lee de un enfoque ‘performative’—basado en la manera en que se relaciona e interactúa con la arquitectura se extiende para incluir nuestra interrelación con la ciudad en general. Con una descripción detallada de este viaje, el papel hace uso de la noción de afecto para destacar el aspecto físico del viaje en bicicleta y, por consiguiente, cómo la ciudad se ve transformada por las experiencias del ciclista. Este entendimiento ‘performative’ se compara con entendimientos más tradicionales de la ciudad, ilustrando como el uno se reafirma al otro. Finalmente se plantea la cuestión de si los peligros de viajar de bicicleta en las zonas urbanas de Inglaterra harán que esta forma de transporte quede marginada en el futuro inmediato, a pesar de lo que dicen los responsables de formular la política de transporte sobre el papel de la bicicleta en la resolución de los problemas de congestión urbano y sostenibilidad. Keywords: performanceaffectcyclingsustainable transportBirminghamperformanceaffectcyclismetransport durableBirminghaminterrelaciónafectoviaje en bicicletatransporte sostenibleBirmingham Acknowledgements This paper started life as a seminar presentation at the first meeting of the tabula rasa research network in the School of Geography, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Birmingham—thanks to all those who subsequently gave advice and comment on the early drafts. Particular thanks to the three referees, the editor and James Evans for helping to refine my thoughts and guide me through the onerous task of producing my first ‘cultural’ paper. Notes 1 A bicycle has to be in motion to change gears. When having to brake suddenly, there is not always time to change into lighter gears as the bicycle is coming to a stop. 2 During autumn/winter 2003 restructuring work meant that there was no access to the underpasses at this point. Cyclists were left to take their chances on the road. 3 It is no fun being overtaken by a huge, high-sided vehicle whose driver seems to have no concept of the air turbulence they are causing. 4 In Britain, 2003 was a particularly hot summer

Aesthetics · Art · Humanities · Performative utterance · Sociology · Visual arts · Diversity and Impact of Dance · Geographies of human-animal interactions · Sport and Mega-Event Impacts · Architecture

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