Scholars, practitioners and activists have been reconsidering the importance of cycling to create sustainable transport systems. A discussion of intermodal transport invites us to reflect on the strengths and weaknesses of diverse modes, as they relate to strategic planning decisions and particularly land use, along with considering ways that cities could get more out of these synergies.

Thinking about cycling and buses in terms of intermodality in cities and metropolitan regions also invites reflection on the nature of a “sustainable” transport system: Is it enough to contest the “mono-mode” of the car simply by replacing it with another mono-mode, public transport, or would it be useful to think in terms of “ecologies of diverse modes”, able to respond to different needs, budgets, and people? Could bike-bus systems become the main articulators of sustainable cities in the 21st century? What advantages would this offer in terms of land use, health, inclusion and other social benefits?

This study examines these issues in the context of democratizing governance systems that include strong, collaborative types of citizen participation, which can help to overcome often fragmented urban governance systems, and build toward more integrated, sustainability-oriented transport and urban systems.