Os esportistas de natureza e as bicicletas pedem voz e vez na paisagem de João Pessoa

Abstract

This article discusses the use of bicycles in the sport and as a transport vehicle, as well as its link to a conception of the city, taking into account public policies. More than just a fad, the insertion of the bikes and the lifestyle of the ones who make use of them regard policy choices, conceptions of public space, and education for social interaction, including traffic and appreciation of differences in the various possibilities of living in the city. It is based on a master’s thesis that investigated the relation among sustainable city, public policy and sports of nature in João Pessoa. Cycling was chosen for this article for it potentially has greater scope in practice and by the fact that it is used as a means of transportation by thousands of Brazilian workers. Thus, cycling is, for different reasons and interests, increasingly directly associated with the idea of improving the quality of urban life and has expanded in sports.