Why Choose to Cycle in a Low-Income Country?

Sabyrbekov, Rahat, and Indra Overland. "Why Choose to Cycle in a Low-Income Country?." Sustainability 12.18 (2020): 7775.

14 Pages Posted: 23 Feb 2021

See all articles by Rahat Sabyrbekov

Rahat Sabyrbekov

OSCE Academy in Bishkek; Harvard University - Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies

Indra Overland

NUPI - Norwegian Institute of International Affairs; NUPI - Norwegian Institute for International Affairs

Date Written: September 21, 2020

Abstract

Research on the adoption of the bicycle as a means of transport has been booming in
high-income countries. However, little is known about bicycle adoption in lower-income countries
where air pollution is high and cycling infrastructure is poor. Understanding the drivers of cycling
adoption in developing economies can increase the efficiency of transport policies while reducing
local air pollution, improving health, and cutting greenhouse gas emissions. The objective of this
study is to identify the factors affecting cycling uptake in a low-income country using the city of
Bishkek in Kyrgyzstan as a case study. The analysis is based on the Theory of Planned Behavior,
a questionnaire-based survey of 900 respondents, factor analysis, and a logit model. In contrast to
studies carried out in developed countries, this study finds that students are less likely to adopt
cycling than other population groups. Other findings suggest that support for public transport,
a desire for regular exercise and perceptions of the environmental benefits of cycling increase the
probability of the use of cycling as a mode of transport in a low-income country. The paper also
identifies positive and negative perceptions of cycling among cyclists and non-cyclists.

Keywords: cycling adoption, cycling mobility, cycling barriers, transport, mobility

Suggested Citation

Sabyrbekov, Rahat and Overland, Indra, Why Choose to Cycle in a Low-Income Country? (September 21, 2020). Sabyrbekov, Rahat, and Indra Overland. "Why Choose to Cycle in a Low-Income Country?." Sustainability 12.18 (2020): 7775., Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3698048

Rahat Sabyrbekov (Contact Author)

OSCE Academy in Bishkek ( email )

Kyrgyzstan

Harvard University - Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies ( email )

1730 Cambridge Street, 3rd Floor
Cambridge, 02138
United States

Indra Overland

NUPI - Norwegian Institute of International Affairs ( email )

Oslo
Norway

NUPI - Norwegian Institute for International Affairs ( email )

Oslo
Norway

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