Subaltern Urban Mobility: Bicycle Mobility as a Way of Claiming City Space in the Face of Strategic Urban Planning

Objective: The objective of this study is to discuss whether urban mobility by bicycle is a manifestation of subaltern urbanism when analyzed in the context of São Paulo. Theoretical Framework: The urban planning crisis is contextualized according to Vainer (2000), and the structure of urban planning in São Paulo is revisited, according to Villaça (2011) and Vasconcellos (2016), as well as using the theoretical framework based on scholars of subaltern urbanism (Roy, 2017) and Insurgent Practices (Miraftab, 2016). Method: Based on a bibliographic review about the crisis in urban planning and mobility in São Paulo, as well as using the concepts of Subaltern Urbanism (Roy, 2017) and Insurgent Practices (Miraftab, 2016), the article discusses whether the use of bicycles for transportation is configured as a practice of subaltern urbanism. Results and Discussion: The results obtained revealed that urban mobility by bicycle in large urban centers can be understood as an Insurgent Practice and be associated with subaltern urbanism. Research Implications: The practical and theoretical implications of this research are discussed, providing insights into how the results can be applied or influence practices in the field of urban planning. These implications may encompass urban mobility and the way in which insurgent practices are understood. Originality/Value: The relevance and value of this research are evidenced by understanding that the use of bicycles for travel in large urban centers is configured as an Insurgent Practice (Miraftab, 2016), relating to subaltern urbanism (Roy, 2017).