 |
 |
Please find copied below notes from the 7th Cycling and Society Symposium Workshop. Workshop Notes by Tim Jones University of Oxford. Workshop held between 09.30 and 12.30 on Tuesday 7th September 2010 at The University Club, Oxford. There were around 20 delegates from the previous day’s Symposium present including most of the original members of the Cycling and Society Group (i.e. Peter Cox, Dave Horton, Tim Jones, Nicholas Oddy and John Parkin). Items tabled for discussion: 1. Reflection on Symposium: format/themes 2. Announcements: institutions, funding, events, publications, research. 3. Sites for hosting the next (8th) Cycling and Society Symposium Reflections on Symposium The Symposium was well received. Comments related to the high quality of papers (and punctual delivery!). Also noted was the variety of speakers’ backgrounds and disciplines which offered unique theoretical perspectives and critical analyses of cycling. Themes were highly relevant, captured the current zeitgeist and hung together well. Overall the 7th Symposium had an air of professionalism in terms of organisation and delivery. Further discussion revolved around whether there is a danger that the Symposium is becoming more ‘conference like’ but it was generally acknowledged that there has been a significant change in scale and nature of participation since the inception event in Lancaster 2004. The group questioned whether this is this the inevitable consequence of success through the legitimisation of cycling research. There was some criticism of the room format (formal tiered system) and problems viewing the projector screen from back of the room. It was questionable whether three papers back-to-back followed by discussion is the model for future Symposia given the appetite to engage with speakers directly after presenting their papers. However, this generally seemed to work at this (Oxford) Symposium given that the papers focused around a specific theme for each session. Some participants disliked the papers where the emphasis appeared to be more about the methodology than the topic of discussion. It was acknowledged that there is a danger that this could penalise PhD students airing their ideas prior to data collection and analysis (whose very energy and fresh ideas we wish to encourage). There was a suggestion that a sub-group could be considered at future Symposia whereby a contiguous or parallel group of papers would explicitly focus around evolving ideas and methods of research degree students. However, papers that provide insight or reflection on different methodological approaches were not totally eschewed but it was suggested that future calls for papers make key desirable themes more explicit and invite potential speakers to submit to a specific theme. There were various suggestions for future events and these included for example ‘rapid fire’ presentations, fewer papers (i.e. nine) with more time for discussion, parallel sessions to accommodate more papers or to satisfy different needs (e.g. inductive and deductive approaches, theoretical v practical/policy relevant topics etc). Some participants were keen to see more policy relevant research and even attendance by potential change makers who have the potential to affect cycling (e.g. practitioners and policy makers). However, it was emphasised that, whilst C&SS wishes to engage with participants outside of academia, this was one of the only space for critical theorising around the subject of cycling without the pressure to come up with a prescription for policy or an answer to those working at the ‘coal face’ trying to bring about a cycling revolution. Rather it is meant to expose participants to ways of thinking about and understanding cycling which they otherwise may not have the opportunity to engage with during their day-to-day routines. Overall it was concluded that the strength of the Cycling and Society Research Group is its organic and cross disciplinary nature which affords ample lateral space to innovate, experiment and to generally capture and run with the latest zeitgeist in cycling research. Notification of programmes CTC Bursaries for Cycling Research [John Meudell, Cyclists’ Touring Club] Three bursaries of £2.5K will be awarded to support post graduate student dissertation research. Themes will be provided and these are likely to focus around (i) legal issues and cycling and (ii) leisure and tourism. The call will go out in November 2010 and selection by February 2011 for research students aiming to complete their research by Autumn 2011. Cyclists’ Academic Network (CAN) based at University of Twente NL. [Mark Zuidgeest, Mark Brussel and Alphonse NKurunziza, University of Twente, NL] Messers Zuidgeest and Brussel explained the remit of the Cyclists’ Academic Network based at the University of Twent. • Cycling and inclusive urban planning. Strong policy focus. • Networking and PhD programme. Focus on developing and emergent economies – India, Africa, Brazil. Looking to develop associations and research in Uganda and Columbia. • Focus moving from systems to impact. Also looking to publishing outputs from the programme and PhD research. Annual Scientific Workshops but these tend to be internal. • Partly financed by the EU Bicycle Partnership Programme [part of the EU InCities programme] Will take forward the International Cycling and Society dimension forward and update Cycling and Society via the JISC Cycling and Society online newsgroup. Linkage will be made with Eva Heinen at TU Delft possibly in partnership with Dave Horton at Lancaster. More information at www.cycling-research.nl Notification of forthcoming Events CILT will be launching a Cycling Practitioners’ Forum in 2010 dedicated to addressing the role of cycling within transport. More information from John Parkin at London South Bank University. The Bike Futures Conference 2010 will be held at Etihad Stadium in Melbourne on Thursday 14 and Friday 15 October 2010. More information available at http://www.bv.com.au/bike-futures/43715/ The 3rd Annual Australian Cycling Conference will take place in Adelaide on the 17th and 18th January 2011. More information from Jennifer Bonham, University of Adelaide or by visiting http://www.australiancyclingconference.org/ Dynamics Stability and Control TU Delft 22nd October 2010. More information from Peter Cox, University of Chester. The next Velo City will take place in Seville 22nd March 2011. More information from www.sevillaenbici.com Cycling and Society Research Group World Wide Web presence Peter Cox informed the group that he has been overseeing the development of a C&S Research Group website hosted at the University of Chester. Peter is still waiting for confirmation of funding from CT&C. Andrew Millward of that body confirmed that this has been granted and it is just a matter of organising and signing the formal contract for funding. Peter Cox will announce the launch of the website via the Cycling and Society JISC group in October 2010. EPSRC Project updates There was a project update from Katrina Jungnickel who is involved in the ESRC funded Cultures of Cycling Project with Rachel Aldred at the University of East London. The research is currently in the data collection stage and is moving on to Hackney after focusing on Hull over the past several months. Attention was drawn to the website which provides regular updates along with links to a frequently updated Blog. http://www.cyclingcultures.org.uk/ There was also a project update from Dave Horton of the EPSRC funded Understanding Walking and Cycling study. The research project is coming to the end of the field data collection stage and will soon commence analysis. More information about the project including downloadable working papers, conference and presentations and papers is available at http://www.lec.lancs.ac.uk/research/society_and_environment/walking_and_cycling.php There were no representatives present to report on the other two EPSRC funded studies viz iConnect and Visions of the role of Walking and Cycling in 2030 but more information is available from these websites: Visions http://www.visions2030.org.uk/NPPI6R114521 iConnect http://www.iconnect.ac.uk/ Book launch Peter Cox was permitted to give a shameless plug for his recent publication Moving People published by Zed Books. More information available from http://www.zedbooks.co.uk/book.asp?bookdetail=4334 Venue for 8th Cycling and Society Symposium September 2011 Andrew Millward of Birmingham City University suggested the University of Warwick as a potential venue for the 8th C&S Symposium given that he has good links with the university and that the institution houses the National Cycling Archive at The Modern Records Centre. More info here http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/library/mrc/subject_guides/ncyaleaflet2.pdf Nicholas Oddy also put forward The Glasgow School of Art as a possible venue. More info here http://www.gsa.ac.uk/ He would be happy to organise the event and suggested that this would provide a geographic rebalance so that we have an even spread of events across the UK (i.e. satisfying the C&S Research Group’s general desire to move northwards and then southwards). Seraphim Alvanides based at Newcastle University had also e-mailed Tim Jones offering to host the 8th Symposium. As Seraphim was absent at the symposium and the workshop participants felt that it was not possible to give this proposal any serious consideration. There was no clear decision by the group whether to host the event in Warwick or Glasgow. However, some members were concerned that there no members of the Cycling and Society Group represented at the University of Warwick whereas Nicholas Oddy of the Glasgow School of Art has been an active member of the C&S RG since its inception. Furthermore, Glasgow would certainly rebalance the geographical focus northwards and indeed would be the first event to cross the border into Scotland. It was resolved to invite Andrew and Nicholas to resolve this issue between themselves and to inform previous organisers Dave Horton, Henrietta Sherwin, John Parkin and Tim Jones of their verdict. If no decision can be made it would then be put to the vote amongst previous organiser [Ed update: e-mail sent to AM and NO on 29/09/2010 15:13 to this effect. Response expected on Friday 8th October. The next (2011) venue will be announced shortly after this date]. Katrina Jungnickel confirmed that she and Rachel Aldred were still offering to host the 9th Symposium at the University of East London in 2012. The group reconfirmed its wish to host the 9th Symposium at UEL. Tim Jones September 2010 Transport Studies Unit - School of Geography and the Environment - University of Oxford [log in to unmask]