Bicycles gain new urban importance

Bicycles, walking, and scooters are changing how people move in cities, with more infrastructure for cycling and walking becoming central to urban planning, according to recent reports. The bicycle, once mainly used for leisure or sports, is now a regular part of daily life, with its use rising sharply in recent years. The health crisis in 2020 helped this shift, as temporary bike lanes created during the pandemic were made permanent in many areas, and public policies have continued to support this trend.

Political decisions shape cycling trends

The growth of cycling varies by region and is influenced by political choices, such as reducing car traffic, ensuring continuous routes, managing parking, integrating with public transport, and improving safety. Frédéric Héran’s book The Return of the Bicycle. A History of Urban Mobility in Europe, from 1817 to 2050 explores this evolution, showing how the bicycle declined during the "Thirty Glorious years" when cities focused on cars but has since returned, especially in Northern Europe.

Bicycles seen through multiple lenses

Olivier Razemon’s The Power of the Pedal. How the Bicycle Transforms Our Bumpy Societies examines cycling from economic, health, ecological, and urban perspectives. The book presents the bicycle as an ideal choice for short trips while addressing the prejudices around it. Pedaling is also a social activity, as explored in David Sayagh’s 2025 book Sociology of the Bicycle, which looks at how age, gender, social background, and other factors influence cycling habits.

Cycling as a political movement

Stein van Oosteren’s Why Not the Bicycle? Desire for a Cyclable France takes a more activist approach, arguing that the rise of cycling comes from collective and political will. Van Oosteren, a Dutchman living in France, highlights the Netherlands’ transformation from car-dependent in the 1970s to one of the most bike-friendly countries in the world.

New mobility options reshape cities

The rise of "soft" mobilities like shared bicycles, car sharing, and electric scooters has introduced new players into urban spaces, often private and international. Maxime Huré’s Shared Mobilities. Political Regulation and Urban Capitalism analyzes how these changes affect the relationship between local governments and private companies, as well as the political and social effects of these services. Huré notes that new vehicles don’t automatically solve mobility problems but require decisions about road use, parking, and safety for pedestrians and vulnerable users.

Walking reclaims its place in cities

Walking, the most basic form of mobility, is often overlooked but is now gaining attention in urban planning. David Le Breton’s In Praise of Walking, published in 2000 and reprinted since, reflects on how walking affects our perception of time, space, and the body. His 2020 book Walking Life. A Quiet Art of Happiness continues this theme in a more technology-focused world. Public policies are increasingly recognizing walking as a key part of urban mobility, integrating it with cycling, public transport, and other local solutions.

Urban mobility redefines city spaces

The growth of cycling and other new forms of mobility isn’t just about replacing cars with bikes or scooters. It changes how streets are used, how people interact, urban planning choices, and how we perceive distance. After decades of organizing cities around cars, there is now a focus on balancing different ways of moving. This shift is also reflected in the growing number of books on the subject found in bookstores.