John,

Well done for following things up with Ollie - good work!  I look
forward to seeing your first draft.  In terms of what the debate topic
should be, how about something that sets up a notion that cycling is
'all about' technology OR culture OR behaviour, in order to stage a
debate that draws out the need to consider all three?  I can't remember
the terms of the conference theme but could it perhaps be linked to that
in some way?

Best,

Paul


John Parkin wrote:

>Dear All,
>
>After the meeting in June I was charged with contacting Ollie
>Hatch at Velo-City to float the idea of a "fringe meeting" run by
>the Cycling and Society Research Group.
>
>I had a wide ranging discussion with Ollie and he was very
>pleased to hear of the establishment of the group. I
>summarise the outcomes as follows:
>
>a) We outline the reason and form of such a fringe meeting.
>
>b) We, the CSRG, in the spirit of the velo-city call put together
>an innovative session to be part of the main programme. In
>discussion with Ollie this may be in the form of a debate or
>workshop (two of the four forms specifically mentioned in the
>call, the others being the more traditional poster sessions and
>paper presentations.)
>
>c) We, of course, put our own individual abstracts in for
>posters / papers in the normal way.
>
>I think if we are succesful with (b), then the form of (a) should
>be fairly informal with a short presentation of our raison d'etre
>and a chance to mix and mingle with others who may be
>interested in joining the group.
>
>So far as (b) is concerned I am biased slightly towards a
>staged debate. Say along the lines "How might we do better
>at ..." and picking up one or more specific themes in the
>Technology-Behaviour-Culture Triangle. We would need to
>identify a chair and two proposers and two seconders and
>allow time for debate from the floor.
>
>If we are unsuccesful with (b) then we could hold the debate,
>or whatever other form it takes during the "fringe" event.
>
>Over the next day or so I will start to put together an abstract
>for Velo-City based on the debate idea that I will then circulate
>to the group. I will also put together a reasoned justification for
>them allowing us to hold a fringe meeting. Of course I would
>welcome your comments on the above in the meantime.
>
>Ollie suggested sending the abstract (b) to the conference
>office in Ireland in the normal way, together with a request for
>a room for the fringe event. He also asked that he be sent the
>request for the fringe meeting so that he could promote it to
>the plenary of conference organisers as well: the well known
>"pincer action".
>
>I look forward to hearing from you all!
>
>Regards,
>John Parkin.
>Built Environment, Bolton Institute, Deane Road, Bolton BL3 5AB UK
>DirTel:+44(0)1204 903027 Fax:+44(0)1204 399074 www.bolton.ac.uk
>
>