ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with a survey of the most salient academic literature on urban cycling, particularly that which studies its economic benefits. An overview of the prevailing cycling literature indicates that studies on cycling have evolved from a consideration of the bicycle as an alternative to the automobile, to a symbol of urban sustainability, to a means toward healthy lifestyles, to a global socio-cultural and distinctively urban phenomenon. While the global appeal of cycling and pedestrian facilities have indeed proven to attract further investment in other aspects of urban development, they have not necessarily led to equitable economic development. Cycling machines are technological artifacts that amplify human energy and work with a high degree of efficiency. While in-store repairs are encouraged, street traders make up for highly irregular customers due to their propensity for self-repairs and the volatility of the informal marketplaces in which they operate.
