Cycling is a healthy, affordable, and sustainable mode of transportation which offers myriad co-benefits to individuals and society at large. Despite these benefits, cycling remains underutilized as a mode of transportation, particularly in midsize cities and northern climates across North America. The specific objectives of this study were to: (1) explore the lived experiences and social-ecological determinants of utilitarian cycling in the context of a midsize city located in a northern climate, and (2) examine differences in social-ecological influences on utilitarian cycling between cyclists with and without access to a vehicle for transportation. Thirty cyclists over 18 years of age participated in semi-structured interviews. Data collected during the interviews were analysed using thematic analysis to describe the lived experiences of utilitarian cycling and to identify social-ecological determinants of utilitarian cycling. Fourteen key themes emerged from the data, confirming previous research illustrating that utilitarian cycling experiences, practices, and behaviours are determined by a plurality of interacting individual, social and cultural, regulatory and policy, and environmental factors. Across the study sample, differences in the experiences those of cyclists with and without access to a vehicle for transportation were identified across all levels of the social-ecological model. Drawing on our findings, we discuss three key lessons that highlight opportunities for promoting cycling as a mode of transportation in midsize and northern cities in North America in particular. These lessons include: 1) recognizing and addressing the influence of car culture; 2) shifting focus towards utilitarian cycling, and 3) identifying opportunities for addressing winter-related barriers. By drawing on the lived experiences of utilitarian cyclists, this research provides important directives for future policy-making, programming, and infrastructure development for the purposes of promoting cycling as a mode of transportation in other midsize cities in similar environments.

骑自行车是一种健康，负担得起且可持续的交通方式，可为个人和整个社会带来无数的共同利益。尽管有这些好处，骑自行车仍未得到充分利用，特别是在中型城市和整个北美北部气候中。这项研究的具体目标是：（1）在北部气候的中型城市背景下，探索功利性骑自行车的生活经验和社会生态决定因素，以及（2）研究社会生态对功利性影响的差异在有和没有车辆通行的情况下，在骑自行车的人之间骑自行车。30名18岁以上的自行车手参加了半结构化访谈。采访期间收集的数据使用主题分析进行了分析，以描述实用自行车的生活经验，并确定实用自行车的社会生态决定因素。数据中出现了14个关键主题，这证实了先前的研究表明，功利性自行车的经历，实践和行为是由多个相互影响的个人，社会和文化，法规和政策以及环境因素共同决定的。在整个研究样本中，在社会生态模型的所有层面上都发现了有和没有车辆通行的骑自行车者的体验差异。根据我们的发现，我们讨论了三个主要课程，这些课程重点介绍了在北美尤其是中型和北部城市推广自行车作为一种交通方式的机会。这些课程包括：1）认识并解决汽车文化的影响；2）将重点转移到实用自行车上，并且3）找出解决冬季相关障碍的机会。通过借鉴实用自行车手的生活经验，本研究为未来的政策制定，规划和基础设施开发提供了重要指导，目的是在类似环境中的其他中型城市中将自行车作为一种交通方式进行推广。3）确定解决冬季相关障碍的机会。通过借鉴实用自行车骑手的生活经验，本研究为将来的政策制定，规划和基础设施开发提供了重要指导，目的是在类似环境的其他中型城市中将自行车作为一种交通方式进行推广。3）确定解决冬季相关障碍的机会。通过借鉴实用自行车骑手的生活经验，本研究为将来的政策制定，规划和基础设施开发提供了重要指导，目的是在类似环境的其他中型城市中将自行车作为一种交通方式进行推广。