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Experts and Consensus in Economics and the Social Sciences Search this site Home Invited Speakers Call for Abstracts Registration Program and Abstracts Program Committee and Support Practical Information Bayreuth 14 days until Abstract Submission May 25-26 - University of Bayreuth (Germany) The term 'expert-based consensus' refers to the practice of relying on the experience and subjective judgment of experts, rather than on other types of evidence (for example from computer models or statistics) when seeking consensus in science. Seeking expert-based consensus becomes a particularly pressing problem when policy applications are needed and yet the current formal models or analytical methods are insufficient for drawing policy conclusions from the science itself. The goal of this workshop is to bring together philosophers and social scientists who have done extensive work on the problems of expertise and expert-based consensus, in order to discuss both theoretical and applied issues related to a methodology of expert judgment and consensus seeking among experts. While the focus of this workshop is primarily on those aspects of the topic that are related to the social sciences, the workshop will touch on the natural sciences and engineering as well. That will allow, additionally, for a useful comparison between disciplines, and it will offer an opportunity for drawing possible distinctions between the use of expert-based consensus in the social as compared to other sciences. source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/University_of_Bayreuth

NACTO Urban Bikeway Design Guide The purpose of the NACTO Urban Bikeway Design Guide (part of the Cities for Cycling initiative) is to provide cities with state-of-the-practice solutions that can help create complete streets that are safe and enjoyable for bicyclists. Bike Lanes Cycle Tracks Intersections Signals Signs & Markings The NACTO Urban Bikeway Design Guide is based on the experience of the best cycling cities in the world. The designs in this document were developed by cities for cities, since unique urban streets require innovative solutions. Most of these treatments are not directly referenced in the current versions of the AASHTO Guide to Bikeway Facilities or the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD), although many of the elements are found within these documents. The Federal Highway Administration has recently posted information regarding approval status of various bicycle related treatments not covered in the MUTCD, including many of the treatments provided in the NACTO Urban Bikeway Design Guide. All of the NACTO Urban Bikeway Design Guide treatments are in use internationally and in many cities around the US. To create the Guide, the authors have conducted an extensive worldwide literature search from design guidelines and real-life experience. They have worked closely with a panel of urban bikeway planning professionals from NACTO member cities, as well as traffic engineers, planners, and academics with deep experience in urban bikeway applications. A complete list of participating professionals is included here. Additional information has been gathered from numerous other cities worldwide. The intent of the Guide is to offer substantive guidance for cities seeking to improve bicycle transportation in places where competing demands for the use of the right of way present unique challenges.  Each of the treatments addressed in the Guide offers three levels of guidance: Required: elements for which there is a strong consensus t