Dave Horton

I'm a Sociologist and writer based in Lancaster, England. I love thinking, cycling and writing; Thinking About Cycling is my attempt to combine them.

I was educated at the University of Hull (BA Hons, Geography 1989), Goldsmiths College, University of London (MA Dist, Sociology with special reference to Qualitative Research 1998), and Lancaster University (MA Dist, Environmental Philosophy 1996; and PhD Sociology – thesis title: 'Searching for Sustainability: An ethnography of everyday life amongst environmental activists' - 2002).

My research interests centre on politics, culture and everyday life. I am particularly concerned with issues of sustainability, environment and mobility. My big focus and passion is cycling, and its capacity to transform people's lives and the world in positive ways.

I seek to understand the world, and particularly cycling, through qualitative methods. I am trained, skilled and experienced in planning, conducting and analysing ethnography, interviews and focus groups.

I organised the first Cycling and Society Symposium in the Centre for Mobilities Research (CeMoRe) at Lancaster University in 2004, and am a founder member of the Cycling and Society Research Group. Between 2008 and 2011 I contributed to the Understanding Walking and Cycling project, taking responsibility for the qualitative and ethnographic research.

I have published work on cycling in academic journals such as Environmental Politics as well as magazines such as Cycle and Velo Vision. I am co-editor (with Paul Rosen and Peter Cox) of Cycling and Society (Ashgate, 2007). I co-wrote (with John Parkin) the conclusion to Cycling and Sustainability (Emerald, 2012). A co-authored book detailing findings from the Understanding Walking and Cycling project will be published as Promoting Walking and Cycling: New perspectives on sustainable travel (Policy Press, 2013).

In case it doesn't go without saying, I practice what I preach; my family and I live car-free, and I am a keen cyclist – for everyday travel, recreation, holidays, adventure and sport.

I left Lancaster University in February 2012, to work freelance. I would be happy to discuss any relevant potential research, writing or speaking to which you think I might be suited, and/or to send a full CV; please just get in touch.

My email address is the title of this blog (all lower case, and written as one word) at (@) gmail.com