The Bicicultures Road Show at the Davis Cycling Hall of Fame was an epic event. Bicycling experts and practitioners gathered from around the world to share their academic work and experiences with the bicycle to an audience of their peers. Covering topics as diverse as the effects of bicycling on creative writing to the application of GPS technology on bike culture-building the conference offered a distinguished panel of speakers. The video transcript of the event should be available online at Davis public access television shortly and I will include a link then. Here is a letter I wrote to the conference attendees this evening,

 Professor Susan Handy, Adonia, Sarah and all attendees, volunteers, sponsors and friends, Thank you so much for the privilege of experiencing your work and perspectives on bicycles. I am strengthened by your accomplishments and continued dedication to the study of a device that plays a central role in my life. Since Sarah asked that we save personal anecdotes until after the conference I thought I would do that now as a way to discuss the direction or focus a future conference might take.

 The questions you inspired for me with your presentations were truly a gift. I found value in every speaker's perspective and experiences with cycling. Here a few of the ideas I have become interested in pursuing as a result.

 We have an opportunity as those involved in the education system to discuss at a future meeting how and where bicycling and its practice might fit into a college curriculum. What would be the goal of a bicycle focused class? What principles and ideals would be instilled? How and where would the knowledge be reproduced? Would it be as free as a bicycle?

 As Bicycle Advocacy has evolved over the last generation the work and direction of advocacy groups has also evolved. The change of leadership as advocates entered lobbied-for local government positions has rendered some of advocates previous roles unnecessary. What new roles should advocates embrace to fulfill their organizations mission? what programs have others used to promote biking, what works, why? How is the success of programs quantified and qualified? . 

Finally, The business that is the bicycle informs all of our perceptions and experiences with cycling but is seldom discussed in relation to advocacy issues. The corporations that enable and inform the dream of a bike boom have a considerable influence on shaping dominant problem definitions surrounding the practice of bicycling. How does the industry affect public policy? In what ways do local bicycle businesses shape public discourse on bicycling?

Thanks again for the inspiration, hope to hear about your good works soon,

Mark Vanveenendaal

 sacbike.blogspot.com

 P.S If you are still reading, thank you. A story occurred to me on the 20 mile ride home from the conference today and I have to relate it. The novel Snow Country features the character Shimamaru a man in 19th century Japan who is a scholar of Ballet, even though he has only read about them. I was reminded of him and his academic pursuits and drew many parallels including bicyclists love affair with European traffic control. How do we know what we know about bicycling? Are we relying on perspectives of bicycling that are similarly remote? The only question really is, is it ballet to you?