The program overview for the upcoming Velo-city Global bicycle planning conference is now live. You can view it on the Velo-city Global website here.

One of the most notable advantages of attending a cycling planning conference of this caliber is having access to some of the greatest minds in cycling policy and planning the world has to offer. One such expert is the technical and environmental mayor of Copenhagen, Ayfer Baykal.

In the following Q and A, Baykal shares her passion for how cycling policy and policymakers will help to shape cities of the future and why Velo-city Global in Vancouver, BC, will be the place to be come June 26, 2012.

1) What aspect(s) of the first North American edition of Velo-city Global are you the most excited about?

I am amazed by the willpower to change North American cities to become more cycle-friendly. And the pace of constructing bike lanes inspires me a lot. I wish other cities could be as effective as cities like New York.

2) What are you looking forward to seeing and experiencing in Vancouver?

I have never been to Vancouver before, but of course I am looking forward to experiencing a great modern city placed right next to a dramatic natural wilderness. Besides that, I have heard so many good things about Canadian hospitality. I am looking forward to meeting people in the street and seeing how they enjoy the city on two wheels.

3) What is your impression of the Velo-city Global 2012 conference so far?

I have the impression that everybody is very excited and counting down the days until the conference starts. It also convinces me that Velo-city Global 2012 in Vancouver is the place to be if you want to see what future cities will look like and how green mobility will have great influence on green growth and livability.

4) Why are these types of conferences important?

This Velo-city Global is my first, but I know from the former mayors that the conference will be bringing together cycling experts, professionals and urban trendsetters from all over the world. This will generate lots of good ideas and discussions about how to build and develop a better cycle-friendly city.

5) Why should people attend Velo-city Global 2012 in Vancouver?

Because it is an amazing opportunity to meet cycle experts and trendsetters from all over the world. These are the people who are changing the world into a better place to live every day.

6) Any other thoughts?

I am just looking forward to joining the conference and meeting all the good people there – and of course to experience the beautiful City of Vancouver.

Pick up the May/ June 2012 issue of Momentum Magazine or view our digital edition to find out what topics Baykal will address in her presentation, what she sees as the path ahead for cycling in North America and how city officials can encourage cycling.  

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 lanes.

Early bird registration rates have been extended to April 30. Visit velo-city2012.com/registration to secure your spot now.

Check back to the Countdown to Velo-city 2012 blog each week for updates on the conference, its speakers and the people on the attendance list.

Originally published on momentummag.com.

By Sarah Ripplinger

Velo-city Global 2012 is extending its early registration deadline until April 30, 2012. This is good news for the numerous delegates who have contacted Velo-city Global 2012 to say they are awaiting approval on travel requests and funding.

In other news, an update on the European Cyclists’ Federation website, ECF communications assistant Amanda Winter explains why it can be counterintuitive to use the admirable biking track record of some European countries to discount the slow progress of improvements to cycling mode share in North America:

Any article containing “North America,” “Europe” and “cycling” will largely conclude in a comparison to show Europe’s utopian cycling atmosphere versus North America’s lack thereof. This article will not propose this, mainly because 1. Each city has its own recipe; there is not one common urban planning rule book or cookie cutter approach for all. 2. As the environment does not function around national borders; we are all in this global green fight together, the time is now to cooperate and learn from each other.

Maybe we should think of Europe and North America differently, like North America is Europe’s little sister, younger, more careless, the kind that steals your favorite clothes and eats the last cookie without offering it to you. They like taking the easy way out and changing their behavior is extremely difficult, unless ‘all the cool kids are doing it.’ Let’s be that annoyingly functional family and inspire each other. Let’s have a family meal and share our recipes. Velo-city Global takes inspirational people at an international level, creating a global family not only to help you reach your goals, but to set new ones and step out of your box, try something on the menu you never tried before.

As humbling as it may be to think of North American cities as the younger siblings of more mature European locales, it’s useful to take into account the amount of “growing up” North America needs to do before more people will be willing to jump onto the saddle.

Separated bike lanes are a key piece of infrastructure that, once established, tend to boost cycling numbers significantly. A League of American Bicyclists report notes that:

Cities in the US, like Portland, OR, have been able to increase their mode-share by building a complete network of facilities and encouraging urban density. The results of a study of 33 large US cities, (excluding New York City, which is considered an outlier in much transportation research because of its size and high use of public transportation) showed that each additional mile of bicycle lane is associated with an approximate one-percent increase in the share of bike-to-work trips.

In this case, as in life, growing up has its benefits.

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.

Originally published on momentummag.com.

By Sarah Ripplinger

The first speakers’ bios are now live on the Velo-city Global 2012 website. Among them is City of Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson who has done much to spearhead the expansion of bicycle infrasctructure in the City of Vancouver.

I recently spoke with Mayor Robertson about the upcoming conference. Here’s a bit from that interview that will also be featured in the May/ June 2012 issue of Momentum:

What is your vision for cycling in Vancouver?

We want people of all ages to feel safe and motivated to ride a bike in Vancouver. I’m inspired by cities like Copenhagen and Amsterdam where cycling is a primary transportation choice for 30 to 40 percent of residents, and it’s exciting that we’re beginning to emulate that success in Vancouver. I’m also inspired seeing the research that demonstrates big health benefits from cycling, and hearing great stories of health and fitness from people in Vancouver. A bike network that is growing in both scope and safety will help us meet our goal for over 50 percent of residents to walk, bike, or ride transit as their primary transportation mode by 2020.

What impact do you think hosting Velo-city Global will have on Vancouver, in particular, on Vancouver’s cycling policies and infrastructure?

Velo-city Global will be a huge opportunity for us to learn from innovative international best practices and to see how we can continue our important work to expand cycling infrastructure throughout Vancouver.

I heard a rumor that Vancouver might launch a bike share in time for the conference; is there any truth to that? How would the city resolve the issue of providing helmets to bike share users?

We’re working very hard to get a public bike share program up and running in Vancouver, but there’s no firm time set just yet. The issue of British Columbia’s helmet law has been a complicated one for us, and that’s why it’s important for interested companies to demonstrate how they plan to provide helmets as part of the program. We’re eager to move forward though and a bike share program is a key next step as we try to get more and more residents making the switch to cycling.

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.

This is the last week that you will be able to get early bird rates for Velo-city Global, so make sure to visit their website and register before March 31 if you want to take advantage of the promotional rates.

Originally published on momentummag.com.