Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids and bikes: socio-cultural factors and safety

Vick, Malcolm (2007) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander kids and bikes: socio-cultural factors and safety. Australian Indigenous Health Bulletin, 7 (2). pp. 1-9.

[img] PDF
Restricted to Repository staff only

View at Publisher Website: http://archive.healthinfonet.ecu.edu.au/...
 
4


Abstract

Objective: The study sought to document young Indigenous people’s bike riding practices, explore cultural factors shaping those practices and consider ways those practices might put them at risk.

Methods: Ninety five Townsville Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander school students participated in face to face interviews or focus groups, and completed quizzes and questionnaires on their bike riding behaviour, knowledge of road rules, and bike safety issues; the study was conducted in 2000.

Results: Indigenous young people are frequent bike users in a wide range of contexts. They demonstrate sound knowledge of road rules, but largely ignore many of them. Different aspects of their riding are shaped by mixes of poverty, sense of obligation, pragmatism, and style. They identify and act on safety issues only in relation to other road users’ behaviour, including normal conditions of road use (e.g., closeness of cars on busy roads), racist driver aggression, and ‘social’ danger from police.

Conclusions: Young Indigenous cyclists’ riding practices appear broadly consistent with practices documented among other social groups, and put them at risk of injury, although they widely adopt practices to minimise danger from other road users. Racism, and their visibility, makes them a target for harassment that also puts them at risk. They do not, however, understand road use in terms of risk and the study highlights complex cultural factors shaping their decision making as cyclists.

Implications: Young Indigenous cyclists’ own behaviour might be addressed by a combination of education and enforcement regarding safer riding practices, within and by Indigenous communities and families. Securing their safety also requires racist aggression by non-Indigenous road users, and police relationships with Indigenous people to be addressed.

Item ID: 2248
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1445-7253
Keywords: Indigenous; bicycle; safety
Date Deposited: 27 May 2009 22:48
FoR Codes: 16 STUDIES IN HUMAN SOCIETY > 1608 Sociology > 160810 Urban Sociology and Community Studies @ 50%
16 STUDIES IN HUMAN SOCIETY > 1608 Sociology > 160803 Race and Ethnic Relations @ 50%
SEO Codes: 92 HEALTH > 9204 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) > 920401 Behaviour and Health @ 51%
92 HEALTH > 9204 Public Health (excl. Specific Population Health) > 920409 Injury Control @ 49%
Downloads: Total: 4
More Statistics

Actions (Repository Staff Only)

Item Control Page Item Control Page