Sobre duas rodas: comunicação urbana, imaginários e movimento da bicicleta em Fortaleza

Abstract

The presence of bicycles in Fortaleza, from the outskirts to the valued areas, is loaded with multiple meanings. This thesis investigates the insertion of bicycles in urban communication and their sociocultural implications. In dialogue with Armando Silva (2011), Michel Maffesoli (2014), Fernanda Sánchez (2010), Jane Jacobs (2001), Massimo Canevacci (2011), Ricardo Campos (2009, 2011, 2018, 2019, 2020), we argue the importance of the bicycle artifact as a communicative element in socio-spatial dynamics. The research examines how bicycles are inscribed in urban visual communication through cycle activism and how these elements contribute to the construction of new forms of communication and resistance in public space. The study contextualizes the historical use of bicycles in Fortaleza through documentary research on advertisements, analyzing their transition from an elitist symbol to a popular means of transportation, especially in the face of urban growth and changes in mobility policies. Adopting a qualitative approach, based on urban ethnography, participant observation, interviews, focus groups, and cycloaffective mapping, the study investigated the perceptions and experiences of cyclists living in twelve neighborhoods. By exploring cyclists’ perceptions of the city, Fortaleza was revealed to be multifaceted: sometimes welcoming, sometimes hostile; marked by inequalities, but also by affection and belonging. Finally, the thesis highlights the bicycle as a transformative element of urban life, influencing the way the city is imagined and experienced.