Environmental health literacy among urban cyclists: insights from a citizen science study in Ljubljana
Department of Environmental Sciences, Jožef Stefan Institute, Ljubljana
How they used Delve
Environmental health researchers at the Jožef Stefan Institute used Delve to run a hybrid deductive-inductive thematic analysis of ten ride-along interviews with Ljubljana cyclists, coding against practice theory's meanings, competencies and materials and building inductive subcodes underneath before a full recoding pass.
“Transcripts were analysed using a hybrid deductive-inductive thematic analysis informed by practice theory (Shove et al., 2012) and supported using Delve qualitative analysis software. The initial coding framework was theory-led and organised around the three core practice elements: meanings, competencies, and materials. One researcher coded all transcripts, initially applying these deductive categories and subsequently developing Inductive subcodes from recurring patterns and participant narratives (Saldana, 2021).”
- Field
- Environmental health literacy and active mobility; how urban cyclists engage with personal air-pollution and noise exposure data during everyday commuting
- Data
- Ten ride-along interviews conducted during participants' usual evening commutes, audio-recorded on wearable microphones and anonymised before coding, within the Urban Cycling Lab citizen science study; the wider mixed-methods design also drew on survey data from 205 participants, exit field notes from roughly 25 device returns, and a Ripple Effects Mapping workshop with 21 people
- Approach
- Convergent mixed-methods design. The interview strand was a hybrid deductive-inductive thematic analysis informed by practice theory (Shove et al.), with a theory-led initial framework organised around the three practice elements of meanings, competencies and materials. One researcher coded all transcripts, applying the deductive categories first and then developing inductive subcodes from recurring patterns, per Saldaña. Code definitions and thematic relationships were refined through repeated comparison across transcripts, followed by a full recoding pass with the refined framework; the co-authors then collectively reviewed and discussed the resulting themes. The published coding framework is in Supplementary Material Table 1.
- Data types
- Interviews
Abstract
Introduction Urban cyclists are exposed to urban environmental stressors such as air and noise pollution, yet little is known about how they engage with environmental health information in everyday commuting contexts. This study examined environmental health literacy (EHL) among urban cyclists participating in a citizen science intervention in Ljubljana, Slovenia. Methods The Urban Cycling Lab combined personal environmental sensing with participatory engagement over a two-week monitoring period per participant. Cyclists used PM 2 . 5 and noise sensing devices during regular commuting trips and accessed geo-coded exposure data through a custom-built visualization platform. Using a convergent mixed-methods design, this study integrated survey data from 205 participants, ride-along interviews (n = 10), exit field notes, and a Ripple Effects Mapping workshop (n = 21). Quantitative findings characterized dimensions of EHL, while qualitative analyses explored how cyclists engaged with environmental exposure information within everyday commuting practices. Results Participants reported moderate concern regarding environmental pollution although most had not previously considered environmental exposure in route selection. Exposure monitoring increased awareness of environmental conditions, particularly noise, and encouraged exploration of spatial exposure variability across commuting routes. However, environmentally informed mobility practices emerged as ongoing negotiations between environmental concerns, convenience, safety, and infrastructural constraints. Participants emphasized exposure reduction as dependent on supportive infrastructures, including green corridors, car-free routes, cyclist-oriented design, and mobility education. Conclusions Citizen science approaches may support EHL by fostering awareness, self-efficacy and collective action. Environmentally informed mobility practices depend not only on individual awareness, but also on supportive urban infrastructures and mobility systems.
Citation
María Alejandra Rubio, Rok Novak, Carolyn Finck, David Kocman (2026). Environmental health literacy among urban cyclists: insights from a citizen science study in Ljubljana. Journal of Transport & Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jth.2026.102420