An understanding of the dialectic through which culture and society both shape and are shaped by human mobility illuminates the importance of bicycle riding among socially and culturally marginalized groups. Special attention is given to groups for whom bicycling could serve as a practical transportation solution that promotes social mobility. However, cultural barriers, particularly the absence of social and cultural legitimacy for cycling in public spaces, often prevent its adoption. This analysis sheds light on the issue of bicycle (non-)riding among Arab-Bedouin adults residing in towns in Israel’s Negev desert. Due to inadequate urban planning, the distance from local and regional employment centers serves as a significant barrier to labor market entry, especially for Bedouin women. Bicycling could enhance mobility and substantially contribute to employment rates within a population largely excluded from the workforce. Based on interviews with young town residents, educational and recreational leaders, urban planners, and local leadership, this research reveals various aspects of Bedouin bicycle (non-)riding as part of their socio-cultural and gendered experiences as town residents, as Arab-Bedouins, and as Muslims in Israel.
