What Do People in Georgia Think About Cycling?

Public Attitudes Toward Cycling in Georgia

There is a category of people who believe that cycling is “not very Georgian” and that society will never adopt it on a large scale, because public acceptance is supposedly low. You can often see comments like this on social media when discussions about bike lanes take place.

How true is this? It has not been verified by research. (There are several studies related to cycling, but I will not go into detail here, as they are not directly connected to this topic.)

Cycling in Georgian Advertising and Marketing

We decided to observe advertisements that appear on Facebook and reflect on what they show.

According to our observation, in the Georgian reality, bicycles are mainly used in advertising by development companies. Occasionally, we also see them in water or bank advertisements. There is a high chance that you have come across such images while scrolling.

They mention that when buying a new apartment, you will be able to ride a bicycle safely in the yard of the residential complex with your family. So, we may assume that this is considered an attractive scenario for a Georgian family. At least, according to marketing specialists.

Urban Infrastructure and Bicycle Mobility

But why only around the residential complex? If streets were adapted for pedestrians and cyclists, why would that not be acceptable for society?

The street is a place where a person spends several hours a day. Why should it be dusty, polluted with exhaust fumes, and uncomfortable?

It is also worth noting that the more people walk and cycle, the more space will be freed up for cars, and there is a high chance that traffic congestion will decrease.

Cycling Associations and Public Perception

Returning to public perception: what does a bicycle represent or associate with for you?