Category: Momentum Magazine

Countdown to Velo-city 2012 – Build It and They Will Come

Leave a comment

Lucky attendees at the Velo-city Global 2010 conference in Copenhagen had an opportunity to check out the city’s fine cycling infrastructure.

Transportation infrastructure is a key focus of the upcoming Velo-city Global conference in Vancouver, BC. No wonder, considering that the bicycle helped pave the way for the automobile back in the late 1800s.

How the Dutch Got their Separated Bike Lanes

Bicycling was so popular in the 1880s and 1890s that cyclists formed the League of American Wheelman (still in existence and now called the League of American Bicyclists). The League lobbied for better roads, literally paving the road for the automobile.

Ironically, bicycles are often marginalized on the same roadways that were originally designed to help make it easier for them to get around.

One of the objectives of the Velo-city conference is share information about how cities can develop better bicycle infrastructure, which, in turn, will enhance city liveability and transportation options.

Public bike sharing systems are one of the pivotal themes that will be discussed at the conference. Attendees will learn how to move

from vision to policy, to planning, to public support, to marketing, to acquisition, to implementation and then to operations, while discussing the role of public bike sharing systems within liveable and sustainable urban communities and their transportation options.

Other pivotal conference themes include how to effectively integrate cycling with transit, rail and other modes of transportation, how to replace fleet vehicles with bicycles and cycling and tourism.

Velo-city Global 2012 is expected to host over 1,000 delegates from around the world. The conference will be held June 26 -29 at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Center Hotel, accessible by the new Hornby Street separated bike lane.

Conference registration has begun! Visit velo-city2012.com/registration to secure your spot now. Early bird registration rates end March 31.

Originally published on momentummag.com.

Countdown to Velo-city 2012 – Learning from Peers

Leave a comment

Renowned urban planner Jan Gehl (Gehl Architects) giving his keynote in the main conference hall at Velo-City 2010 in Copenhagen.

Conferences like Velo-city Global are a link to inspiring speakers and current information on best-practices, research and more. Attendees have exclusive access to leaders in their field in a collegial setting. No wonder the next biannual Velo-city Global is expected to attract over 1,000 delegates.

A notable figure in the transportation policy world, Gil Penalosa will be opening and closing the conference, which takes place in Vancouver, BC, June 26-29, 2012.

The executive director of the Canadian non-profit organization 8-80 Cities and former commissioner of parks, sports and recreation in Bogota, Colombia, Penalosa brings with him a wealth of experience in developing liveable cities where bicycling plays a key role.

He recently stated that the best way to get politicians on side is to not mention cycling specifically, but as one factor in policies that promote public health, mobility and environmental protection.

“Imagine you have a city with two percent cyclists and 60 percent people using cars,” Penalosa said in a European Cyclists’ Federation report. “People will say you are against the 60 percent.”

“Cyclists are often too keen to talk about cycling and forget about the whole package. If you introduce cycling as a solution for obesity, for example, you are suddenly not only trying to help other cyclists, but a whole population.”

Information about other notable speakers attending the conference is presently available on the Velo-city Global 2012 website.

Keep checking this blog each week for more updates about the conference, presenters and attendees.

Velo-city Global 2012 is expected to host over 1,000 delegates from around the world. The conference will be held June 26 -29 at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Center Hotel, accessible by the new Hornby Street separated bike lane.

Conference registration has begun! Visit velo-city2012.com/registration to secure your spot now. Early bird registration rates end March 31.

Originally published on momentummag.com.

Countdown to Velo-city 2012 – The City of Vancouver

Leave a comment

By Sarah Ripplinger

Cyclists’ right to the road is even more apparent to motorists thanks to some bright green paint through this Vancouver, BC, intersection.

One of the highlights of Velo-city Global 2012 is the fact that it will take place in Vancouver, BC.

Within the past three years, Vancouver has established three separated bike lanes that presently bisect the city’s downtown core. The Hornby and Dunsmuire separated bike lanes feature bright green bike boxes; planters and medians that keep cars apart from the two-way bike lane; and bike traffic signals.

Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson has done much to encourage cycling. A daily bike commuter himself, he can regularly be seen traveling between meetings and to and from work on his Rocky Mountain mountain bike. Since being elected mayor in 2008, and reelected in 2011, Robertson has been an active proponent of bicycling as a mode of transportation.

The City of Vancouver is also working towards the admirable goal of becoming the greenest city by 2020, which includes goals to bring about more positive change on the cycling and transportation front.

Participants at the conference will be present during the city’s popular Bike Month in June. Residents of Vancouver enjoy frequent events and festivities during June, such as Velopalooza, that encourage people to hop on their bikes. The Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition (VACC) often sets up commuter stations along major bicycle routes, handing out coffee and snacks to people riding their bikes.

Vancouver is also home to some other amazing amenities, such as the seawall, a 13.7-mile (22-kilometer) route that borders the ocean around the city’s famous Stanley Park and meanders around to the popular Kitsilano Beach. Speaking of beaches, Vancouver is home to many beautiful beaches where outdoor sports and relaxation are practiced on a regular basis.

Visitors to Vancouver also have access to all of the arts and cultural activities that could be expected in a thriving major metropolitan center. Premier theater, museums, sports/ recreation, cafes and great dining are all part of the Vancouver experience.

Plus, by the end of June, the city typically enjoys sunshine, warm days and cool nights. It’s the perfect venue to relax, observe an increasingly strong Canadian urban cycling culture and explore a city with a bright “green” future.

For more about what to do, where to go and where to stay in Vancovuer, see Momentum‘s Vancouver Visitors’ Guide.

Velo-city Global 2012 is expected to host over 1,000 delegates from around the world. The conference will be held June 26 -29 at the Sheraton Vancouver Wall Center Hotel, accessible by the new Hornby Street separated bike lane.

Conference registration has begun! Visit velo-city2012.com/registration to secure your spot now. Early bird registration rates end March 31.

Up Close & Personal with Caroline Samponaro

Leave a comment

Caroline Samponaro. Thanks to Adeline Adeline for providing the Gazelle bike for the shoot.

One of New York City’s biggest movers and shakers in the grassroots cycling department, Caroline Samponaro first fell in love with bikes as an undergraduate at Columbia College back in 2000 – her thesis was about bicycling in NYC. Now the full-time director of bicycle advocacy with Transportation Alternatives (since 2006), she continues her quest to get more people riding the streets.

What bike do you ride?

My daily bike is a single-speed with a front basket. It’s a no-frills steel frame, with upright handlebars, perfect for my daily commutes and trips to meetings around the five boroughs. A few years ago I built up a geared bike for myself that has a rack so I can attach panniers and carry groceries or do errands more easily. Hands down my favorite bike is the steel, fixed-gear that I designed and brazed last summer (with a ton of help and support from fastboycycles.com). I am 5’5’’, pretty average height, yet even the smallest unisex bike frames are all out of proportion for a woman my size. I designed my frame to accommodate 26’’ wheels – and am experimenting with a more perfect frame size for the growing number of women riding bikes in the US.

What has enabled Transportation Alternatives (TA) to attract 8,000 members?

Our mission is to reclaim NYC streets for the majority of New Yorkers who are walking, taking public transit and, increasingly, riding bikes. Streets and sidewalks make up 80 percent of our public space in the Big Apple. TA’s campaign work helps to connect the dots between the many different voices that want safer, more livable public spaces. The fact that TA has helped to usher in the most unprecedented investment in bicycling in NYC over the past four years has also done a lot to grow our membership.

What is your greatest accomplishment with TA?

Ushering in the community support for the Department of Transportation’s (DOT’s) expansion of more than 250 miles of bike lanes over the past four years has been an amazing learning experience. That investment in quality infrastructure has paralleled a 109 percent increase in biking during the same period. If you build it, they will come! When I was riding a bike back in 2000, it was rare to run into another cyclist. Now it’s not uncommon to be in a bicycle traffic jam on some of our most popular bike routes.

What are you working on right now?

We will be working hard to reveal the benefits of increased bicycling for NYC small businesses through our Biking Rules Business campaign: bikingrules.org. We are also super excited that the NYC DOT is officially pursuing a public bike share program! This is something we have advocated for for years, and it will be the biggest game-changer for daily bicycle transportation in NYC.

What changes do you envision for NYC in the next five to 10 years?

We will continue to see the build out of the bike lane network, hopefully, with a core network of protected bike lanes that connect the Five Boroughs (aka NYC) on major arteries for bicycle-commuting. I suspect public bike share, combined with more bike lanes, will help increase our bicycle mode share from one percent to the upper teens in the next five to 10 years. And with that jump, NYC will surely mature into one of the most iconic bicycling capitals in the world. If the the last four years are any indication, we are well on our way there.

Originally published in the March/ April 2011 issue of Momentum Magazine and on momentummag.com.

Vancouver Visitors’ Guide

Leave a comment

By Sarah Ripplinger

Cruise through Lotusland.

Your best bet for a great experience in Vancouver is to bike along the seawall and along the trails in Stanley Park and Pacific Spirit Park. The Central Valley Greenway is a fantastic day ride that runs some 15 miles (24 kilometers) from Science World to New Westminster. The beaches are particularly welcoming in the summer, and are beautiful places to contemplate the scenery year-round – check out Kitsilano, Third Beach and Spanish Banks. If you’re in Vancouver for the last Friday of the month, you may want to join in for a Critical Mass ride, which meets at the Vancouver Art Gallery (Georgia Street side), in downtown Vancouver, at 5:30 p.m. and departs at 6 p.m.

Sleeps

The West End Guest House (1362 Haro St.) Bikes are available for free at this bed and breakfast located in a quiet downtown neighborhood.

The Sylvia Hotel (1154 Gilford St.) A heritage building on Vancouver’s scenic English Bay, The Sylvia Hotel is close to bike trails along the seawall and offers secure indoor bike storage.

Meets

Car Free Vancouver Day (Commercial Dr., Main St., West End and Kitsilano) Car-free streets with entertainment and activities for the whole family.

Bike the Blossoms (city-wide) Take a self-guided tour through the city and check out the amazing cheery blossoms. Maps and prizes available for participants of this event, which usually takes place in late April.

Eats

Bandidas Taqueria (2781 Commercial Dr.) A staple hangout for hungry riders, Bandidas is run by a dynamic duo of fixie-riding women.

Go Fish Ocean Emporium (1505 W 1st Ave.) Nestled in the bustling False Creek Fisherman’s Wharf near Granville Island, Go Fish is the best place to get fish and chips – and fish tacos – after a morning riding the seawall around Stanley Park.

Streets (Rentals)

JV Bike (955 Expo Blvd.) Rent everything from electric bikes and tricycles to cruisers, tandems and child seats.

Spokes Bicycle Rentals (1798 W Georgia St.) Find a bike that’s right for just cruising, city touring and tackling trails.

Streets (Shops)

Whoa! Nellie (2539 Main St.) Lovely city bikes and mixties, as well as accessories and friendly staff.

Dream Cycle (1010 Commercial Dr.) Steel-framed bikes and repair services available on site.

Originally published in the March/ April 2012 issue of Momentum Magazine and on momentummag.com.