Battles Between Bikes and Businesses: Collective Strategic Action in Memphis, Tennessee

Identifier

518

Author

Kevin Thomas Smiley

Date

2012

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts

Major

Sociology

Committee Chair

Wanda Rushing

Committee Member

Anna Mueller

Committee Member

Seth Abrutyn

Abstract

Collective actors can take strategic actions that influence and are influenced by local considerations of place as well as global brandings. Actors in Memphis, Tennessee have attempted to change their city by supporting bicycling infrastructure, specifically a 1.5 mile bicycle lane installation in the center of the city. Many local business owners on the corridor opposed the bicycle lanes because they feared it would negatively affect their business. This research is a case study analysis of the discourse about the decision over bicycle lanes. Implications of the installation of bicycle lanes and the discourse surrounding it include noting the efficacy of methods employed by change makers in this effort at social change and the thematic change created by these actions.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to the local University of Memphis Electronic Theses & dissertation (ETD) Repository.

Recommended Citation

Smiley, Kevin Thomas, "Battles Between Bikes and Businesses: Collective Strategic Action in Memphis, Tennessee" (2012). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 420.
https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/etd/420