Transcending Transit Deserts: Participatory Design of Interactive Bicycling Advocacy Tools in an American City

Recent HCI research has focused on developing interactive technologies for cyclists and using technology to promote this activity. However, the community-building and advocacy aspects of cycling remain relatively unexplored. In this study, we explored the integration of urban cycling and participatory technology design to address transportation inequities and promote cycling advocacy in a US city characterized by infrastructural and social disparities. We engaged with nine bicycling advocates from five organizations in Baltimore, USA in participatory design activities to understand their motivations for promoting cycling in urban areas and how interactive technology can aid in creating a cyclist-friendly city. Along with the various practical motivations, we found the participants also promote cycling with a desire to challenge historical discriminatory practices and infrastructural inequalities and as a means of community building and identity expression. We identify three interconnected directions for future change: supporting ancillary bicycle infrastructure and DIY repair practices, changing perceptions through community engagement, and using technology to support community awareness and inclusion. We argue cycling can be a tool for resistance and identity shaping in this context, and participatory design can offer innovative directions for urban designers, policymakers, and system designers to strengthen efforts toward creating inclusive and equitable urban environments.