Dr Morgan Campbell, Research Fellow in the University’s Faculty of Environment, shares an overview of ‘Co-producing the Leeds Cycle network’. This project is a partnership between the University, Leeds City Council and delivery cyclists and was funded in part by the Research England Policy Support Fund 2023-24. Learn more at: www.leeds.ac.uk/policy-leeds/doc/policy-support-fund
while food delivery is in high demand food delivery cyclists or Riders are considered an unwanted presence on city streets and Pavements these individuals cycle 60 M or more a day irrespective of weather to fulfill orders in a fixed amount of time and take home a living wage there’s often a negative public Narrative of riders as bad cyclists overlooking the grueling conditions under which they cycle this project is challenging these negative perceptions by working with riers and recognizing them as field experts by sharing in their day-to-day experiences we can better understand how the social and physical cycling infrastructure does and doesn’t work in practice the project is fostering trust between writers and public authorities through engagement activities that bring together riers and members from Lead City councils influen ing travel Behavior team these activities lead to the co-designing of solutions to problems like bike theft poor cycle Lane maintenance and harassment from other Road users by the end of the project the council will trial a forum that encourages ongoing feedback and input for people who cycle for their livelihood