Datafication of cycling: tensions between cycling policy and mobility justice

该奖学金巩固了ESRC资助项目的博士研究：“自行车的数据通信：自行车政策和机动性正义之间的紧张关系”。在我的博士研究培训期间，我对智能设备产生的“大数据”的收集、处理和共享等“数据通信”过程如何影响自行车政策计划的交付产生了原创性的理解。通过关注健身和Strava等健身应用程序产生的数据，我展示了包括伦敦交通局(TfL，UK)和俄勒冈州交通部(Oregon Department of Transport，USA)在内的管理部门如何利用数据来支持交通政策的雄心。这些数据被识别为记录年轻男性为通勤和娱乐目的而记录的自行车旅程。尽管学术界有兴趣探索Strava Metro样本与周期计数器等可观察数据相比的统计代表性，但并没有对Strava Metro作为评估政策来源的应用进行批判性思考。为了应对这一研究差距，我对骑行政策计划和半结构化访谈进行了批判性的分析，采访了伦敦交通局和伦敦交通部的数据科学家和研究人员。这项研究的结果表明，公共管理部门对Strava Metro数据的评估如何不公平地赋予了那些已经高度流动的人不公平的特权，这些人可能是出于选择而不是必要骑自行车的。通过综合流动性和数据公平理论，以及来自流动性、关键数据研究和公共政策的批判性学术知识，我展示了Strava Metro数据分析如何加剧与效率和个人自由凌驾于多样性之上的现有社会不公正。如果不加以限制，我认为，尽管自行车运动在环境上是可持续的，但它仍将是不可持续的。为了走向更加平等和机动性公正的未来，我认为，自行车政策必须从支持包容性自行车的道德要求开始，而不是主要专注于增加自行车模式的份额。虽然博士研究表明交通政策具有深远的影响，但这项工作也向更广泛的受众说话，超越了活跃的旅行政策爱好者的狭窄范围，包括公共卫生专业人员、数据科学家和关键数据研究人员。为了扩大我的研究的影响，这个奖学金将主要集中在起草和出版一系列批判性社会科学的同行评议手稿。具体地说，将起草三份手稿，并提交给下列期刊：移动、交通地理杂志和大数据与社会。为了与众多学术受众进行有效沟通，我制定了详细的研究策略和工作计划。这项工作计划是在彼得·梅里曼教授的支持和指导下制定的，他是一位著名的地理学家，拥有90多篇期刊文章和书籍章节。通过在国际知名期刊上建立良好的发表记录，这一博士后奖学金将成为迈向学术生涯的重要踏脚石，成为一名具有批判性参与的多学科地理学家。

This Fellowship consolidates doctoral research on the ESRC-funded project entitled: "Datafication of cycling: tensions between cycling policy and mobility justice". During my doctoral research training, I developed an original understanding of how "datafication" processes, such as the collection, processing, and sharing of "big data" generated by smart devices, influence the delivery of cycling policy plans. By focusing on fitness and data generated by fitness apps, such as Strava, I showed how administrations including Transport for London (TfL, UK) and the Oregon Department of Transport (ODOT, USA) have made use of data to support transportation policy ambitions. These data are recognised to capture cycling journeys recorded by younger males for commuting and recreational purposes. Despite academic interest in exploring the statistical representativeness of Strava Metro samples compared to observable data such as cycle counters, there were no critical reflections on applied uses of Strava Metro as a source to evaluate policy. In response to this research gap, I critically analysed cycling policy plans and semi-structured interviews, with data scientists and researchers, at TfL and ODOT.The findings of this research demonstrated how the evaluation of Strava Metro data at public administrations to support policy ambitions unfairly privilege people who are already highly mobile, and who may cycle out of choice, not necessity. By synthesising theories of mobility and data justice, with critical scholarship from mobilities, critical data studies, and public policy, I showed how Strava Metro data analyses exacerbates existing social injustices associated with the privileging of efficiency and individual freedom over diversity. Left unchecked, I argued that cycling, for all its environmentally sustainable credentials, will remain unsustainable. To move toward more egalitarian and mobility just futures, I argued that cycling policies must start with an ethical imperative to support inclusive cycling, rather than remain primarily fixated on increasing cycling mode share.Whilst the doctoral research illustrated there are profound ramifications for transportation policy, the work also speaks to wider audiences beyond a narrow sphere of active travel policy enthusiasts, including public health professionals, data scientists, and critical data researchers. To amplify the impact of my research, this Fellowship will focus primarily on the drafting and publication of peer-reviewed manuscripts across a range of critical social sciences. Specifically, three manuscripts will be drafted and submitted to the following journals: Mobilities, The Journal of Transport Geography, and Big Data & Society. To communicate effectively with multiple academic audiences, I have developed a detailed research strategy and workplan. This workplan has been developed with support and guidance from Professor Peter Merriman, an established and leading geographer with over 90 journal articles and book chapters. By establishing a strong record of publications within internationally renowned journals, this Postdoctoral Fellowship will serve as a major steppingstone toward an academic career as a critically engaged, multidisciplinary geographer.