A case study of the Reading cycle hub, a planned community space with cycling facilities including secure parking, occupying an empty former retail unit in Reading's town centre.
Department: Real Estate & Planning
Supervised by: Emma Street
Town centres face a number of challenges including making productive use of empty units following the collapse of several major retailers. The benefits of active travel (i.e. walking and cycling) including improved air quality, enhanced health outcomes, carbon reduction and economic (e.g. supporting local spending) are increasingly recognised by local authorities and local businesses who are looking for ways to simultaneously revitalise town centres and promote active travel among residents and employees. The Department for Transport’s Active Travel Capability Fund 2021/22 has allocated Reading Borough Council (RBC) an indicative amount of £249,454 for which RBC submitted a proposal (on 19th April 2021) for the development of a town centre cycle hub, offering secure cycle parking, cycle maintenance and a cycle loan/donation scheme, as well as various initiatives aimed at supporting a shift in travel behaviour to active modes. A shortlist of currently vacant former retail units suitable for the Hub has been created and a business plan is being developed for its operation. This placement, based in the Department of Real Estate and Planning, will support new research on the ‘Reading town centre cycle hub’. The student researcher will work with the PI to plan, carry out and write up a case study. Project partners including Ethical Reading and Avanti cycling will be involved in co-creating the research and supporting the student to conduct it (e.g. providing access to the Hub). The placement will support the PI and Hub project partners’ plans to develop an ongoing research collaboration around active travel in Reading (using the Hub as an initial focal point). Next stages of research could involve an extended Hub-user survey (once it has been operational for a longer period of time) and researching other potential Hub locations. This project supports the University's commitment to reciprocal research relationships with local partners and the University and sustainability goals including RBC’s commitment to support active travel choices.
Depending on the status of the Hub at the start of the placement, the researcher’s tasks may include the following: 1. Assisting with a desk-based review of existing cycle hubs (including internationally) to inform best practice in the case of the Reading hub; 2. Assisting with a policy review to understand the policy drivers for the Hub (e.g. review of UK Government Active Travel policy and funding programmes); 3. Stakeholder mapping to record those involved in the planning, delivery, operation and use of the Hub; 4. Shadowing Hub project partners (e.g. case study site visits) to understand how a community project such as this is delivered; 5. Conducting research to understand how the Hub is being used (e.g. interviewing users and project partners or assisting with focus groups of the same); 6. Assisting in the preparation of case study reports (e.g. progress reports based on the results of 3, 4 and 5, above). It is anticipated that the student’s time will be split approximately 75:35 between desk-based research tasks (e.g. policy review, stakeholder mapping, writing up case study progress report etc) and field research (e.g. planning and conducting interviews or focus groups, shadowing Hub activities on site etc) but this will be determined by the status of the Hub at the start of the placement research period.
Communication skills; Time management skills; Independent study skills; Web-searching skills; Written English skills.
Applied research skills, e.g. interviewing, focus groups, participant observation (ethnography).
University of Reading's Henley Business School (Whiteknights campus) with some remote working and site visits (Reading town centre). Students will need to be able to travel independently to Reading town centre as required for site-based activities.
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Monday 13 June 2022 - Friday 15 July 2022
The post will be advertised centrally on the UROP website between 21st February and 4th April 2022. Students should submit their CV and Cover Letter (maximum of one page) setting out why you are a suitable candidate for the role directly to the Project Supervisor (click on supervisor name at the top of the page for email). Successful candidates will be invited for an interview.