Cycling into Headwinds: Analysing mobility practices that inhibit sustainability

Using the example of cycling we contribute to public policy debates surrounding sustainability. We employ practice theory to shift the debate away from consumer choice and agency to examine instead why sustainable practices are not always available to consumers. Therefore, rather than asking the question “why don't people cycle?” we ask “why is the practice of cycling not thriving?” Practice theory focuses on material, meanings and competences as making up a practice positing that it can only thrive and grow once these elements come together. By looking at how practices compete between each other for the same set of elements we can examine how some practices (i.e. driving, schooling, policing) come to dominate or inhibit others (cycling). In terms of the theme of this special issue then instead of excavating anti-consumption as a pre-cursor to practices (i.e. a choice not to engage in), by opening out practices we examine the mechanisms through which this choice is restricted.