Socio-material perspectives on perceived accessibility of cycling: A sociological inquiry into practices, regulations and informal rules

Abstract

This paper examines the intersubjectivity of perceived accessibility (PA) as a relational construct emerging from the interplay between individuals’ internalised dispositions and socio-material environments. Through ethnographic observations and interviews with cyclists, non-cyclists, and bike rental operators, it explores cycling practices within Hong Kong’s app-based bike-sharing landscape. Findings reveal that PA extends beyond individual experiences, shaped by the interplay between material infrastructure, cycling practices, formal regulations, and informal rules. Factors such as spatial (cycling areas), temporal (weather, nighttime), and material (bike parking, rental availability) conditions mediate PA. Symbolic and material power are evident in government policies that promote ‘safe cycling’ while restricting infrastructure development in urban areas, shaping cycling practices and reinforcing its marginalisation in urban mobility. Despite these constraints, residents actively reshape accessibility by informally redefining cycling spaces and reinterpreting bike reliability, both through physical and digital experiences, thereby materially and symbolically integrating cycling into transit-oriented mobility. The study also highlights the temporality of PA; for instance, night-time cycling remains viable for those leveraging cultural awareness of reduced law enforcement at particular times, preparing with proper lighting equipment, or benefiting from well-lit infrastructure. These findings demonstrate that PA is contextually produced, shaped by relational social structures rather than fixed attributes of individuals or infrastructure alone. The paper calls for policy approaches that recognise the intersubjective nature of PA, advocating for adaptive regulations and inclusive infrastructure to foster equitable and sustainable urban mobility.