Abstract
The chapter is dedicated to the analysis of the material aspect of e-bike mobility, which is in its turn related to two modalities of flowing (moving, interacting with other vehicles and users, navigating) and mooring (being at rest, parking and charging). Where flowing consists of different bodily movement and embodied knowledge such as navigating, balancing, speeding, dodging, manoeuvring and knowing the road conditions; mooring is comprised of three elements: charging, maintaining (repairing) and parking. Speeding (or riding fast), protecting and charging hold a special place in the material arrangement of e-bike mobility as all three are highly relevant constituents of the user experience, and causing much discussion regarding the safety and ‘civilized’ or disciplined behaviour of practitioners.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
Notes
- 1.
肉包铁, rou bao tie.
- 2.
References
Du, W., Yang, J., Powis, B., Zheng, X., Ozanne-Smith, J., Bilston, L., & Wu, M. (2013). Understanding on-road practices of electric bike riders: An observational study in a developed city of China. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 59, 319–326.
Lin, X. (2016). Future perspective of electric bicycles in sustainable mobility in China. PhD Thesis, Cardiff University: Cardiff, UK.
Reuters. (2015). China’s face mask industry under scrutiny as pollution worsens. https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-mask-pollution/chinas-face-mask-industry-under-scrutiny-as-pollution-worsens-idUSBREA2O0GI20140325?feedType=RSS&feedName=environmentNews
Soerensen, K. H. (2006). Domestication: The enactment of technology. In B. Thomas, M. Hartmann, Y. Punie, & K. Ward (Eds.), Domestication of media and technology (pp. 40–57). Maidenhead: Open University.
Sopranzetti, C. (2014). Owners of the map: Mobility and mobilization among motorcycle taxi drivers in Bangkok. City & Society, 26(1), 120–143.
Tyfield, D., & Zuev, D. (2018). Stasis, dynamism and emergence of the e-mobility system in China: A power relational perspective. Technological Forecasting & Social Change, 126, 259–270
Wells, P., & Lin, X. (2015). Spontaneous emergence versus technology management in sustainable mobility transitions: Electric bicycles in China. Transportation Policy Part A: Policy and Practice, 78, 371–383.
人民网.(2014). 电动自行车安全问题令人心惊. http://politics.people.com.cn/n/2014/0825/c70731-25528546.html. Accessed 12 July 2016.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2018 The Author(s)
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Zuev, D. (2018). ‘The Human Flesh Covering Steel’: Materialities of E-bike Propelled Movement. In: Urban Mobility in Modern China. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-76590-7_4
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-76590-7_4
Published:
Publisher Name: Palgrave Macmillan, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-76589-1
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-76590-7
eBook Packages: Social SciencesSocial Sciences (R0)