CYCLING IN CLUJ-NAPOCA: AN ACTOR-NETWORK ANALYSIS OF URBAN MOBILITY AND SPATIAL INEQUALITY
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.2478/subbs-2025-0004Keywords:
Actor-Network Theory, cycling infrastructure, green-blue corridors, spatial inequality, alternative mobilityAbstract
This study explores the dynamics of alternative urban mobility, with a focus on cycling, in the context of Cluj-Napoca. Our analysis, anchored in actor-network theory (ANT) and critical sociological literature, examines bicycle infrastructure not only as a physical support but also as a materialization of power relations and processes of social (de)legitimization. Through semi-structured interviews with users and experts, we investigate how fragmentation, spatial inequality, and compliance with existing car legislation influence the experiences of urban cyclists. We identify how certain interventions, such as green-blue corridors, can contribute to the reconfiguration of urban space and the promotion of more equitable and sustainable mobility. The article contributes to a nuanced understanding of the role of bicycle infrastructure as a terrain for negotiation between human and non-human agents, norms, daily practices, and authority, revealing the complexity of the dynamics between space, power, and identity in contemporary urban societies.
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