In partnership with Leeds City Council and delivery cyclists, this project had two goals:
First, to give voice to the everyday experiences of riders who move between road space, pedestrian space, and dedicated cycle lanes to pick up and deliver food within a set period. Despite high demand for their services, riders face hostility from motorists and concerns from pedestrians. Many come from ethnic minority backgrounds, further contributing to a sense of exclusion.
Second, to establish and sustain a forum connecting the marginalised voices of riders with transport decision makers, reframing their insights on cycling politics, safety, road use and theft as expertise. While the Council is committed to creating formal channels for public input, it was not clear how to engage and sustain interest from riders who are time-poor and possibly distrustful of local government.
The forum aimed to shift power dynamics, aligning with participatory research principles by empowering riders to actively shape safer, more inclusive transport policies.
This work was funded by the 2023–2024 Research England Participatory Research Fund.