Cycling in the post-socialist city: On travelling by bicycle in Sofia, Bulgaria

Andrew Barnfield*, Anna Plyushteva

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticle (Academic Journal)peer-review

27 Citations (Scopus)
77 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

There are many ways of moving through a city. Cycling is one which has received considerable attention from urban scholars. Yet it has remained largely neglected within the burgeoning literature on the post-socialist urbanisms of Central and Eastern Europe. This paper uses a case study from Sofia, Bulgaria to address this gap in urban research. By exploring the practices and affordances of cycling, we offer a discussion of everyday mobility, public life and urban space in post-socialist Sofia. This case study incorporates ethnography and in-depth interviews with regular cyclists. Through a discussion of bicycling spaces and practices, this paper complicates the notion of post-socialist cities as places defined by the decline of public sensibilities.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1822-1835
Number of pages14
JournalUrban Studies
Volume53
Issue number9
Early online date22 May 2015
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jul 2016

Bibliographical note

Acceptance date is provisional and based on date of publication.

Research Groups and Themes

  • SPS Centre for Urban and Public Policy Research

Keywords

  • cycling
  • Eastern Europe
  • geography
  • post-socialist urbanism
  • privatism
  • Sofia
  • transport

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