TCC X Proposals - steph's thoughts

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one person's opinion on the proposals.  thanks to all three cities -
Guadalajara, San Luis Potosi, and York - for your great ideas!  the
decision is going to be anything but easy.

i think York would have to be my overall vote: the host organization
has a good history as an organization and close relations with the WCN
admin, and the city itself has positive build solutions.

that said, i wonder how long the WCN will have only one TCC per year,
given the carbon footprint of air travel and a broader base of
membership geographically.  York wins based on the following criteria,
but a conference in Guadalajara has me personally very excited!!
also, York focuses on "carfree development in the UK and Europe".
Guadalajara focuses on sprawl problems shared by many S.American
cities.

1. What could we learn from the host city? Would the examples be
replicable in other parts of the world?
i believe lessons learned would be most replicable from San Luis
Potosi or Guadalajara, since they both seem to be dealing largely with
the problem of widespread sprawl.  Guadalajara's touches on rural
planning ("abandonment of agriculture in rural areas"), which is a
crucial piece of sustainable development that is not addressed enough.
 it sounds as though York has the most built solutions, however.

if TCCX could be used in the process of "Vision for the City" in
preparation for the 2011 Pan-American Games in Guadalajara, the
conference could both learn from and help influence decisions.

Order of Preference:  Guadalajara, York, San Luis Potosi

2. Strength of host organisation. Potential for broad range of local partners.
York wins this one in my estimation due to their longevity and breadth
of partners.
i met Ciudad para Todos at TCC08 and was charmed by their dedication,
enthusiasm and resourcefulness and believe they will be a powerful
force for Guadalajara's livability, together with CCMS.
regretfully, because i am relatively new to the Network, i am not
acquainted with host organizations from San Luis Potosi.  if someone
from Bicitropicos could describe what your relationship is related to
your "other contacts" that would be helpful!

Order of Preference:  York, Guadalajara, San Luis Potosi

3. Accessibility. Will network members be able afford the time and
expense to travel to the host city?
European network members wil find Latin America difficult to get to,
but in-country costs will be less in Mexico.  i was under the
impression that this year the WCN intended to hold TCC in the
Americas, but perhaps that has changed?

Order of Preference:  Guadalajara, San Luis Potosi, York

4. Political context. Will there be local support for a Towards
Carfree Cities Conference?
York sounds the best candidate for this, and that there is some
momentum in regional planning in San Luis Potosi.  Guadalajara sounds
as though they are building a lot of grassroots support.

Order of Preference:  York, San Luis Potosi, Guadalajara

5. Influence on world stage? Will the location attract attention from the press?
The Pan-American Games preparations for 2011 could be pretty
attractive to media.

Order of Preference:  Guadalajara, York, San Luis Potosi

6. Ability to inspire. Will the ambiance of the city give the visitor
positive examples of public space not dominated by motorised traffic?

That would be York, and it sounds as though San Luis Potosi (i have,
regrettably, never been there) is also there.

Order of Preference:  York, San Luis Potosi, Guadalajara

7i. Which city would draw the most participants? ii. Where would you
prefer to go?

i.  hmmmm, hard to say.  i imagine York would probably attract the
most current WCN members just due to proximity
ii.  Guadalajara!

Order of Preference:  Guadalajara, York, San Luis Potosi

8. i) What would the conference do that's new, interesting or
different compared to past conferences? ii) Is there some idea or
purpose that ties the proposal together? (is there a conference
concept or theme?)

 i.  Guadalajara discussing urban sprawl and rural planning is my
personal favorite!!
ii.  York has great tie-ins with York Cycle Show and Cycling Town

--
steph routh
www.umbrellastreets.org

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