| This project was an in-depth investigation of influences and motivators for six Vancouver teenagers who were old enough to drive but regularly cycled to high school. Significant life experience and ecological autobiography methodologies were used for the importance they place on participants' life histories. Data was collected from questionnaires, individual interviews and a group interview and was analysed with grounded theory. The participants began cycling independently around the age of 10. This offered independence, fun, speed and time efficiency. Parents modelled bicycle use and resisted habitual chauffeuring. These participants kept cycling throughout the mid-teen years because those early motivators, along with fitness and health were stronger than negative comments from peers. They ride neither new, nor expensive bikes, and regard bicycle advocacy amongst peers as too aggressive. However, their rigorous tactics to encourage friends indicate that friends of current high school cyclists are an important target in bicycle promotion. |
