Please circulate among your networks

 

Cycling, Society and Social Justice

Cycling and Society Research Group Annual Symposium 2019

with

Scientists For Cycling network

 

Hosted by the Department of Social and Political Science, University of Chester, UK

2-3 September, 2019

 

 

Mobility Justice is increasingly important as a primary theme for understanding contemporary mobilities and in shaping imaginaries of future mobilities. A number of recent works point to the need to engage with considerations of mobility justice in the context of cycling research. For example, studies observing connections between cycling promotion and gentrification in the USA have questioned easy assumptions that increased investment in cycling is automatically a social good for all sectors of the population.

 

This symposium focuses attention on issues of social justice, and on the ways in which cycling has affected social inclusion and exclusion, both past and present. Its aim is to build a better understanding of relationships between cycling and social justice and to extend the scope of cycling researches to address more clearly the social and political implications of changing mobilities and how different cycling practices might engender different forms of social inclusion and exclusion. Similarly, conventional emphasis on travel time in mobility planning needs to be problematized in relation to its effects upon cycling and social justice.

 

Thinking through the relations of cycling and social inclusion will necessarily require considerations of class, gender, age  and ethnicity alongside better incorporation of the implications of different bodily abilities and capacities. Accessibility is important in thinking through urban mobilities but parallel considerations of autonomy remain relatively under-examined. The governance of different stakeholders and social movements as they affect practices and policies can also have equity implications, so it is also important to consider intersections of cycling with other social activisms for social inclusion and creative change.

 

We therefore invite proposals to address any aspect of these themes, from historical, current or future perspectives. Papers that address these themes in all aspects of cycling, whether transport, leisure, sport or tourism are welcome. Both empirical and theoretical contributions will be considered.

 

The symposium will follow a mixed format with a variety of different styles of presentation available, and a range of session types. Consequently  contributions should follow one of three formats.

·        Poster presentation. A1 format poster. There will be a dedicated session for poster presentations which should last about 6 minutes plus question time.

·        Short presentation/ report:  A 12 minute presentation slot. Suitable for work in progress and study reporting

·        20 minute presentation. For fuller presentations and discussion. If possible, contributors should submit a presentation or written paper for this longer format by 14th August for circulation prior to the symposium. This is intended to facilitate discussion and as a means to prepare for publication.

 

There will be organised field visits on the days before and after the symposium to examine how institutions and infrastructures contribute to social inclusion and exclusions. Details to be confirmed.

 

Deadlines and submission procedures

 

Please send abstracts of 250 words maximum, to [log in to unmask] by Tuesday 30th April

You must include title, corresponding author and institution/organization and indicate format.

 

 

Provisional programme outline (TBC)

 

Sun 1st from 12.00 arrivals & afternoon Site visit. Evening pre-symposium social

Mon 2nd all day on campus. Optional early evening meal. Optional evening discussion

Tuesday 3rd all day on campus

Wed 4th am and pm options 1) longer local rides 2) focused infrastructure assessment 3) meeting with local community bike schemes

 

Cost:

£50 for the full symposium 2^nd and 3^rd of September

£25/ day for one-day attendance on the 2^nd or the 3^rd September (includes coffees and lunches).

£5 contribution on the day per session for activities on Sunday and Wednesday

Pre-symposium social, Evening meals and accommodation extra.

 

Accommodation on campus will be available 

Booking details will be available as programme confirmed on http://www.cyclingandsociety.org/

 

(A limited number of cycles may be available to hire/borrow)

 

For all other information, please contact [log in to unmask]

 

 

The Cycling and Society symposium series was launched in 2004 at Lancaster University. The symposia are linked to the Cycling and Society Research Group whose members span many disciplines and approaches to the study of cycling.

Scientists for Cycling is an international network of academics supporting the work of the European Cyclists’ Federation (ECF)

 

 

 

Peter Cox

Professor of Sociology

Department of Social and Political Science

University of Chester

Parkgate Road

Chester

CH1 4BJ

 

Direct line: 01244512039

Office: Westminster CWE115

 

Recent publications:

Cox, P (2019) Cycling: A sociology of vélomobility. Abingdon: Routledge

Cox, P. & Koglin, T. (eds.) (2019) The Politics of Infrastructure, Bristol: Policy Press