U.S. Rep.
U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer of Oregon, founder and chair of the Congressional Bike Caucus, will commence the two-day Bicycle Urbanism Symposium II with a speech on Sept. 28 from 7-8:30 pm. at Virginia Commonwealth University.
The symposium is an academic and professional conference dedicated to promoting bicycling as a mainstream mode of transportation. According to Max Hepp-Buchanan, director of Bike Walk RVA , lectures at the symposium will concentrate on the economic and health benefits of bicycling, innovative bicycling plans and planning, bicycling promotion and advocacy, and the design elements needed to create a bicycle-friendly city.
Hepp-Buchanan also said it was no coincidence that the conference happens to start following the culmination of the UCI races, “The races make a perfect backdrop for the event.” Richmond has been striving to become more bike-friendly in recent years.
In 2012, VCU was awarded a Bike-Friendly University Silver designation by the League of American Bicyclists and construction on the Floyd Avenue Bike Boulevard is set to begin in October.
As for the symposium’s impact on the city, Buchanan said it “will be a great way for Richmonders and visitors to ruminate on how we can make our urban and suburban areas better places for bicycling, not just for sport, but for transportation, health and recreation.”
Support for this event is provided by the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs and Bike Walk RVA. The event is a follow-up to the first Bicycle Urbanism Symposium, which was held in Seattle in June 2013.
The symposium will take place at VCU’s University Student Commons, 907 Floyd Ave. Blumenauer’s talk is free and open to the public. The day-long event on Tues., Sept. 29, which will take place from 9 a.m. to 5:45 p.m., costs $175-$225, depending on registration type.
The cost also includes admission to a reception Monday night following Blumenauer’s talk. Find out more and register for the event.
