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.

By Sarah Ripplinger

The presenter list and themes for the upcoming Velo-city Global 2012 have been approved and Momentum Magazine is bringing them to you first.

Conference headliners include Technical and Environmental Mayor of Copenhagen Ayfer Baykal, City of Portland Mayor Sam Adams, City of Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson, City of Copenhagen Director of Traffic Niels Torslov and University of British Columbia professor and J. Armand Bombardier Chair in Sustainable Urban Transportation Systems, Dr. Larry Frank.

Speakers will cover topics related to the overarching theme of Cities in Motion – Sharing Cities’ Success Stories at this premier international cycling planning conference, to be held from June 26-29, 2012 in the picturesque city of Vancouver, BC.

Previous Velo-city conferences have been held in Paris, Copenhagen, Dublin, Brussels, Barcelona and Perth. This will be the first time that Velo-city Global makes its mark in North America, and up to 1,500 delegates – from politicians, to engineers, planners, architects, social marketers, academics, researchers, environmentalists and activists – are expected to attend.

The path to creating vibrant, healthy, sustainable communities through leadership will be the topic of several presentations under the theme of leadership and the politics of change. Presenters, such as Michael Kloth, the acting secretary-general of the International Transport Forum, will share insights from past experiences, discuss how they overcame challenges and outline solutions and success stories.

Cycling plays a critical role at the local and global levels. How cycling can be viewed as a means of achieving community aspirations and addressing global problems, such as climate change, is a hot topic that many attendees at the conference won’t want to miss. Presenter Dr. Larry Frank will draw from his work at the University of British Columbia’s School of Population and Public Health and his research into the intersection between land use, travel behavior, air quality and health. As the director of traffic for the City of Copenhagen, presenter Niels Torslov has valuable experience working with one of the most bike-friendly roadway systems in the world. Torslov’s presence at the conference is sure to attract attention.

Keep on tuning into the Bike Advocacy Blog for more up-to-date conference information in the Countdown to Velo-city 2012. And check out our first blog post here for more information about the conference and Momentum‘s involvement.

Originally published on momentummag.com.