by Sarah Ripplinger

March 28, 2012

VancouverMayorGregorRobertson

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Vancouver Mayor Gregor Robertson

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.

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by Sarah Ripplinger

March 28, 2012

Latest Comments

  • a priority...

    I do agree that enforcement of BCs helmet law can be lackadaisical, but when police do decide to focus on cyclists when enforcing traffic law, helmet tickets are the way they go.

    Some 80% of all tickets given to cyclists are helmet tickets. This percentage could very well be higher if one considers tickets are given out to cyclists after accidents happen, quite often for violations that led to a collision - eg. running red lights, no lights after dark, riding on the wrong side of the street.

    From the tickets handed out by police, it's clear what police care about is lack of helmets. They don't seem to care too much about other traffic violations and it's this attitude that ensures collisions and injuries that result from them will continue.

    Helmets, it seems, are more important than any other law, and that's just wrong

    Posted by Brad April 25, 2012 10:09:50

  • Selective enforcement

    The helmet laws are rarely enforced, and when enforced it's only used to harass low income people on the east side.

    It's a tool to control, not to protect the population.

    Posted by Anthony April 25, 2012 06:25:25

  • it IS wrong

    Michael,

    Despite seat belts and other safety devices in cars, 32000 people died on US roads last year. In Holland, no one wears helmets when riding their bikes, and it is the safest place to ride a bike in. Safety devices is not a cure for bad or ill enforced road safety. The Government of BC with their helmet zealotry is harming the public. Doctors who promote helmets are in breach of their oath to do no harm, since they do not put public safety first. Police Officers who enforce helmet laws are not putting road safety first, they do not serve and protect the public as they supposed to, if they go after non helmeted cyclists, as opposed to using their time and resources going after the dangerous drivers.

    Do some research and don't call people dumb before you do.

    Bicycle helmets DO NOT provide the protection you think they do.
    Bicycle helmets DOES discourage cycling.
    Bicycle helmets make bicycling look far more dangerous than what it really is.

    Mr. Mayor,
    Your bike share program will struggle under the weight of the plastic hat. Thank you for
    fixing the roads, though. (in terms of all road users)

    Posted by ch1 April 02, 2012 09:39:52

  • What's so wrong about wearing helmets?

    IMO not wearing helmets is akin to driving without wearing your seatbelt - dumb dumb dumb. What's so wrong about having to wear a helmet while riding a bike? There's no way in hell I would ride in Vancouver without one.

    Posted by Michael April 02, 2012 08:16:43

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