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Active Travel Studies – an inter-disciplinary journal

Special issue – Longer distance cycling: roles, requirements and impacts

Guest editors

Professor John Parkin (University of the West of England, UK) 
Dr Anders Fjendbo Jensen (Technical University of Denmark)

The bicycle is increasingly seen by many cities as a solution that provides efficient and effective urban mobility, and at the same time reduces the negative environmental consequences of motorized transport. Research on cyclists’ behaviour often focuses on everyday cycle trips of shorter lengths. By contrast, this call focuses on longer length trips.

While shorter distances are more common, there are indications of a potential for modal shift to bicycle for longer trips if they are facilitated by good quality cycle infrastructure separated from other modes. Longer distance cycleways are beginning to be built between settlements in some places, and provide continuous, attractive and comfortable routes where progress can be rapid and uninterrupted. Such longer distance routes can benefit everyday cycling, and can attract travellers who would have otherwise used a car.

The development and increasing use of e-bikes is also a significant potential contributor to more longer distance cycling. The increasing availability of other types of cycle, for example non-conventional cycles including recumbents, may be a factor in being able to cycle longer distances.

While the combination of longer distance good quality infrastructure and e-bikes could act as an encouragement for some, the combination of the two may not be attractive to others. Overall the special issue is interested in the potential contribution of longer distance cycling and its implications, good and bad. On the positive side, there may be gains in accessibility and inclusion; on the negative, longer distance cycling may deter shorter (slower) cycling trips and/or stand in tension with the concept of the 15-minute city.

This special issue will cover the following areas:

• Funding and public policy, and other policy relating to the support of longer distance cycling, for example, employers’ policies. 
• The design and construction of infrastructure, and the value of technology, such as e-bike development and use.
• Implementation strategies, such as communications and social marketing, used to promote everyday longer distance cycling. 
• The extent to which longer distance everyday cycling is inclusive and attractive. 
• The extent to which longer distance cycling for business can serve last-mile and other delivery/servicing needs 
• Cycle logistics business models for longer distance deliveries, and the experiences of those working in the cycle logistics industry.
• The way in which longer distance cycleways support trip making behaviour for everyday and regular trip making.
• Equity and equality issues relating to those attracted to longer distance cycling and those who are not attracted to it, and the way this is affected when specific cycling infrastructure is provided.
• The choices available to people who cycle longer distance, including the value of the option of multi-modality as part of longer distance cycle trips.
• Case studies and intervention studies. 
• Analysis of the impacts of longer distance cycling both socio-economically and on the environment (e.g. carbon reduction, air quality, noise and severance). 
• Emerging practices of longer distance cycling, for different purposes and in different contexts. 
• We are interested in papers from all parts of the world. The call is not primarily intended to cover longer distance cycling in relation to leisure or tourism but we are open to submissions that address longer distance cycling for business (e.g. couriers or freight).

Timescales and practicalities

Please submit abstracts (400-600 words) at https://activetravelstudies.org/about/submissions. You will first need to register at https://activetravelstudies.org/register 
Deadline: 16th November 2020.

Authors will hear from the editors encouraging a full submission or providing feedback by 14th December 2020.

The process is identical to that of submitting a full article entering the abstract details into the system then uploading a Word document of the same. It is advised that later, articles are submitted as an updated version of the abstract, so the same with the additional content, including any revisions to the abstract.

Full submissions to be made by 31st March 2021. These will be peer reviewed. ATS submission categories include: research articles, commentaries, reviews, debates and interviews.

Provisional publication date of issue: from June 2021.

ATS is a peer-reviewed open access journal and no fees will be charged to contributors to this special issue.

Please help to increase the quality of scholarship on active travel and to spread understanding of the field by submitting your work to be considered for publication in our journal.

We welcome research articles, including articles on method; commentaries; reviews; debates and interviews.

You can choose to submit written text or to make a multi-media submission, combining written material with audio and/or video content.

See more about the journal here.