The Bicycle: Vehicle for Societal Change, STS 2690 Prof. Ross D. Petty Winter Session 1997 Office Hours: M,T,W,F 1:30-2:30 018 Luksic Hall; x5529 Objectives Through study of the bicycle we shall: 1. Examine technology not as a single invention, but as a series of technological changes only some of which are successful. 2. Explore the social and technological effects of a particular stream of innovation beyond its specific purpose. 3. Learn to appreciate the influence of technology on society and business. 4. Study the value and role of simple technology in the modern and future world. Justification Other courses in Babson's Society, Technology, and Society concentration typically address technology in a general context and its effects on society in a narrow context such as politics, communication, human values, or business. In contrast, this course presents a case-study of a single stream of technological advances, called the bicycle, and examines its broad range of societal effects. This approach complements the typical course at Babson and provides another perspective for students seeking to understand the societal effects of technology. Grading 25% Class Discussion and Participation 45% Paper/ Presentation on "Context and Spin-offs" 30% In Class Essay Final Exam Texts The readings and short texts: The Bicycle: Vehicle for a Small Planet by Marcia D. Lowe (1989), and The Bicyclist's Dilemma in African Cities by David Mozer (1989) are available at the bookstore. Those texts and other books are also on reserve at the library. I hope that the supplemental (not required) book, Bike Cult by David Perry (1995) will also be available. In addition, as noted in the syllabus, segments of the BBC documentary "Bicycle: A Celebration of the Invention," and the videos "Invention is Not Enough", "The Song of the Bicycle", and "Way to Go, Bicycles in Cuba" will be shown in class. Greg LeMond's Bicycle Adventure software program will occasionally be used in class and also available for research. SYLLABUS (Dates of topic coverage approximate depending on class interest) 1/2 Introduction to course and overview of bicycle development In class video excerpt from "The Bicycle" Assignment: S.S. Wilson, "Bicycle Technology" Scientific American 81-91 (March 1973); Robin Roy, "Invention and Evolution of the Bicycle"; Sidney Aronson, "The Sociology of the Bicycle," 30 Social Forces 305-312 (1952); Ivan Illich, Energy and Equity 59-64 (1974). 1/3 Bicycle Evolution In class video "Invention is Not Enough" Assignment: Robin Roy, "Creativity in Practice: 19th and 20th Century Bicycle Design"; Paul Rosen, "The Social Construction of Mountain Bikes ..." 23(3) Social Studies of Science 479-513 (1993); Allan Nevins, Ford, The Times, The Man, The Company 133-135, 186-191 (1954); Edwin Schwin, excerpt from Fifty Years of Schwin Built Bicycles 17-21 (1945); Chester Kyle and Wolfgang gronene, “The Bicycle-Airplane Connection,” Air & Space 88-95 (March 1990). 1/6 Bicycle Business In class video excerpt from "The Bicycle" Assignment: Andrew Millward, "The Origin of the British Cycle Industry," A. E. Harrison, "The Competitiveness of the British Cycle Industry, 1890-1914," 22 Econ. Hist. Rev. 287-303 (1969); A. E. Harrison, "The Origins and Growth of the UK Cycle Industry to 1900," 6 J. Transport Hist. 41-70 (Mar. 1985)(skim); Jane Jacobs, “Bicycles and the Wealth of Nations” 27 Ceres 47 (July 1995). One page description of Social Impact Assignment due! 1/7 Production and Marketing Assignment: David A. Hounshell, From the American System to Mass Production 1800-1932 189-215 (1984); Martha Moore Trescott, "The Bicycle, Technical Precursor to the Automobile," 5 Bus. & Econ. History (2nd Ser) 51- 75 (1976)(skim); Ross D. Petty, "Peddling the Bicycle..." 15(1) Journal of Macromarketing 21-46 (1995). 1/8 Turn-of-the-Century Transportation Assignment: Richard Harmond, "Progress and Flight: An Interpretation of the American Cycle Craze of the 1890s," 5 J. Social History 235-257 (1971-72), and Gary Allen Tobin, "The Bicycle Boom of the 1890s: The Development of Private Transportation and the Birth of the Modern Tourist," 7 J. Popular Culture 838-849 (1974), Richard Holt, "The Bicycle, The Bourgeoiseie and the Discovery of Rural France,1880-1914" British Journal of Sport History 127-139 (Sept. 1985); Stephano Privato, "The Bicycle as a Political Symbol: Italy , 1885-1955," 7(2) Int'l J. of History of Sport 172-187 (1990); Terrence Cole, Wheels on Ice 1-20 (1985); Jim Fitzpatrick, The Bicycle and the Bush 24-92 (1980). 1/9 Women's Emancipation and Bicycle Racing In class video excerpt from "The Bicycle" Assignment: Ross D. Petty, "Women and The Wheel"; Andrew Ritchie, Major Taylor: The Extraordinary Career of a Champion Bicycle Racer 29-41, 135-160 (1988); Edward Albert, "Riding a Line: Competition and Cooperation in the Sport of Bicycle Racing," 8 Sociology of Sport Journal 341-361 (1991). 1/10 Good Roads and Traffic Law Assignment: Robert A. Smith, A Social History of the Bicycle: Its Early Life and Times in America 205-225 (1972); Todd Litman, "Who Really Pays," 40 Bicycle Forum 4-7 (1995); Ross D. Petty, "The Sport of Bicycle Riding and Safety Law: A 150 Year Review." 1/13 Practical Uses: Soldiers, Police, Messengers and others In class video excerpt from "The Bicycle" Assignment: Martin Caiden and Jay Barbree, Bicycles in War 10-31, 137-150 (1974); Jan VanderTuin, "Human- Powered Utility Vehicles," 5 Bike Tech 1-4 (Fall 1986); "Work Force" The Bike Mag 32-35 (April 1995); Ted Wilson, "Cops on Bikes Down Under," and short readings; Lowe, pp. 31-45; John Forester, "Objective and Psychological Explanations for Differences in the Bicycling Programs of Different Nations;" Michael Replogle and Harriet Parcells, excerpts from Linking Bicycle/Pedestrian Facilities with Transit National Bicycle and Walking Study (FHWA Case Study # 9, Oct. 1992); George G. Wynne, "Executive Summary" A Study of Bicycle and Pedestrian Programs in European Countries National Bicycle and Walking Study (FHWA Case Study # 16, Jan. 1992); Walter Hook, "Are Bicycles Making Japan More Competitive," Sustainable Transport 10-15 (Sept. 1993). 1/14 Developing Countries In class video "Way to Go" The Assignment: Nwabughuagu, "The Role of Bicycle Transport in the Economic Development of Eatern Nigeria," J. of Transport History 91-97 (March 1984); Mozer, all; Lowe, pp. 5-13, 23-31; Michael Replogle, "Bicycles & Cycle Rickshaws in Asian Cities;" 1372 Transportation Research Record 76-84 (1992); Joseph Scorpaci and Annie Z. Hall, "Cuba: Havana Pedals Through Hard Times," 5 Sustainable Transport 4-5 (Fall 1995). 1/15 The Future In class video "The Song of the Bicycle" Assignment: Lowe, pp. 14-22; Gihon Jordan, "The Future of Transportation: Not a Mirror of the Past"; "Improving Access for the Poor in Urban Areas," 20 Appropriate Technology 21-23 (June 1993); Kuranami, et al., "Planning for Non-Motorized Vehicles," 90 The Wheel Extended 10-17 (Dec. 1994); "Human Power" Bicycling 66- 86 (Dec. 1988); Scott Martin, "Cycle City 2000'" Bicycling 52-56 (March 1992); Frank Jameson, "Charging for the Future," Bicycle Culture 46-47 (March 1994); Ed Ayers, "Breaking Away" 6 World Watch 10-18 (Jan-Feb. 1993). 1/16 Student Presentations and Papers Due 1/17 FINAL EXAM in class and course Social Impact Assignment This course consists of a detailed case study of the societal impact of the bicycle. It is hoped that students will learn about social impacts that they previously have not ever imagined. Yet, the goal here is not to earn a PhD in the Bicycle, rather it is to learn to think about technology and its effects on our society in non-obvious ways. For the primary course assignment, you should select a technological innovation of your choice, that is your "bicycle," and explore its little known societal effects. You may pick an innovation with obvious impacts, e.g., the car, computer or photocopier or something more obscure. Your grade will be based primarily on the level of thought shown in your project by the development of non-obvious social impacts. In other words, if you select an innovation with obvious impacts, you should focus on non-obvious effects. Better still, select an obscure or unrecognized innovation and most if not all the impacts you develop will be non-obvious. Your project should result in both a 9-14 page, double spaced paper due the day before the last class/final exam. It also requires a 10 minute in class presentation on the second to last day of class. I need a one page description on or before Monday, Jan. 6th. This description will not be graded, but allow me to approve the suitability of your proposed topic and perhaps offer suggestions. Group projects are acceptable, but should be proportionately larger in scope than individual projects. Remember Winter Session is short and goes quickly. I urge you to begin thinking about this project as soon as possible.