AISSR video series highlights collaborative urban research
26 January 2026
In the video series The Social Science of Amsterdam, six AISSR researchers reflect on ongoing research projects that are deeply embedded in urban life. The videos highlight how social science contributes to understanding and addressing key urban challenges, from social cohesion and inequality to family life, participation and sustainable mobility.
The videos were originally produced for the AISSR Harvest Day 2025 (4 December), where they formed the starting point for interactive workshops between researchers, students and practitioners. They now offer a broader view of how social science research engages with the city of Amsterdam in practice.
In the final video in the series, Meredith Glaser, urban sociologist at the University of Amsterdam, explores how cycling can help cities address some of today’s most pressing urban challenges: from car dependency and public health to environmental sustainability.
Glaser introduces the work of the Urban Cycling Institute, an independent non-profit organisation that brings together research, urbanism and industry to explore the future of urban cycling worldwide. The institute works with policymakers, researchers and knowledge partners to translate research insights into urban practice, supporting cities that are actively searching for alternatives to car-centred mobility systems.
A key strength of the Urban Cycling Institute is its global network of more than 160 cycling mayors (fietsburgemeesters). Many of them are former students, now working across cities around the world to advocate for cycling as a foundation for healthier, more inclusive and more liveable urban environments.
The video also features Maud de Vries, CEO of BYCS, the global organisation dedicated to building inclusive cycling cultures, particularly in cities facing inequality and child poverty. While BYCS focuses on grassroots, bottom-up change, the Urban Cycling Institute complements this work by engaging with institutions, policymakers and international knowledge networks.
Together, their collaboration shows how social science can function as a bridge between research, policy and practice. By connecting academic insight with real-world implementation, cycling emerges not only as a mode of transport, but as a tool for social inclusion, public health and environmental justice.
This video illustrates how urban sociology contributes to rethinking mobility and sustainability in cities worldwide. By embedding research within policy debates and global practitioner networks, the project demonstrates how social science can actively shape urban futures — grounded in evidence, collaboration and everyday urban realities.