Far from the “dreaming spires”: staging active travel in suburban Oxford, UK

Figures & data

Figure 1. Jensen’s staging mobilities model (from: staging mobilities, Ole B. Jensen, copyright (© 2013). Reproduced by permission of Taylor & Francis Group.

Image of Ole B. Jensen’s Staging Mobilities model. This is a circle split into three slices each one depicting (1) physical settings, material spaces and design; (2) social interactions; and (3) embodied performances. These are “staged” from above by planning design and regulations, and from below, by people interacting and performing different types of movement in spaces which are both shown above and below the circle split into three slices.

Table 1. Participant profiles and journey summary.

#	Pseudonym	Gender/Age	Years of residence in Barton	Economic status	Driving licence? Car/MC/Cycle?	Summary of go-along
1	Gunther	M/62	18	Working	N N/Y/N	Walk around local estate taking in the local park (20 minutes).
2	Helen	F/38	3	Maternity leave	N N/N/Y	Walk to collect her child from the school before visiting local library (90 minutes).
3	Mina	F/64	63	Retired	Y Y/N/Y	Walk around local estate and over ring road to green space combining usual recreational routes (120 minutes)
4	Ronan	M/64	53	Working	Y Y/N/N	Walk around local estate using regular recreational route (60 minutes)
5	Giles	M/45	8	Working	N N/N/Y	Cycle into city centre using direct arterial road on way in and indirect return route via quieter streets (60 minutes)
6	Lisa	F/54	8	Working	N N/N/Y	Cycle across city to place of work in western suburb (45 minutes)
7	Maria	F/36	5	Working	Y N/N/Y	Cycle to work through estate and along ring road (20 minutes)
8	Mohan	M/66	5	Working	Y Y/Y/Y	Cycle (& walk) return ride to allotments across estate (20 minutes). Regular walk around estate (70 minutes)
9	Eric	M/44	1	Working	N N/N/N	Walk (and Bus) shopping trip to nearest supermarket (50 minutes)
10	Jeff	M/20	5	Working	N N/N/N	Walk (and Bus) usual early morning journey from home to work in East Oxford using two buses (40 minutes)

Figure 2. Configuration of the A40 “hamburger” roundabout. (map data: Google earth, image © 2023 Maxar Technologies, image © 2023 Airbus).

Aerial photograph of the A40 “Hamburger” roundabout using Google Earth map data. It shows how the A40 cuts through the middle of the roundabout so that traffic travelling along the A40 can flow straight ahead through the roundabout if signals are on green. All other arms are also signalised apart from the arm that leads to/from the Barton estate. Underpasses run under the roundabout, but signs indicate that cyclists should dismount and wheel their cycles.

Figure 3. Crossing at the Barton arm of the A40 “hamburger” roundabout (source: authors’ own).

Photograph of the informal raised crossing on the Barton arm of the A40 “Hamburger” roundabout. The arm is busy with motor traffic. A car is stationary on the informal crossing as it waits to enter the roundabout. A large stationary lorry is also obscuring visibility on the crossing.

Figure 4. Negotiation in motion under the “hamburger roundabout” (source: authors’ own).

Figure 5. Access to the underpass under the A40 “hamburger” roundabout with murals symbolising the “dreaming spires” of Oxford University colleges (source: authors’ own).

Photograph of narrow ramp access to the underpass under the A40 “Hamburger” roundabout. At the entrance is a sign instructing cyclists to dismount. The walls of the underpass are stencilled with the “dreaming spires” of Oxford.

Figure 6. Maria negotiates the underpass under the A40 “hamburger” roundabout (source: authors’ screen grabs from chest-worn action camera, shot at 1920 x 1080, 50 fps).

‘Comic strip’ sequential series of eight still images taken from field researcher’s action camera with captions. The images show how Maria negotiates barriers and tight corners on her cycle at the underpass under the A40 “Hamburger” roundabout. They highlight the cycling skills required to slow, balance, turn, climb, and accelerate in tight spaces space designated exclusively for pedestrians and the elaborate subterranean negotiation in motion that takes place between walkers and cyclists while motor traffic flows overhead.