As part of Velo-city Global 2012, an international cycling planning conference held June 26-29 in Vancouver, BC, TransLink—a co-sponsor of the event—signed the Charter of Vancouver on Children and Cycling: a global agreement to enhance the cycling cuture and experience for children.

The charter takes its cue from the United Nations 1990 Convention on the Rights of the Child and recognizes the special ability cycling has in enshrining those rights. It encourages local governments to adopt practices toward cycling that keep those rights in mind, building infrastructure and providing services and programs so children grow up using their bikes as normal part of their travels in the community.

“If the goal is to have more than half of all trips taken by transit, cycling, or walking by 2040,” says TransLink Chair Nancy Olewiler, “we need to remember that the adults of 2040 are children today. Travel choices start at a young age, which is why the Charter of Vancouver is so timely and important.”

TransLink’s TravelSmart program sponsors the school bike-safety courses provided by HUB (formerly Vancouver Area Cycling Coalition), as well as other initiatives to promote responsible cycling.

Seven TransLink staff members made presentations during Velo-city 2012, such as a report on public bike-sharing as part of an overall transportation plan and a bicycle/transit integration tour.

The four-day event brought together about 1,000 delegates from around the world to share best practices for creating and sustaining cycling-friendly cities, where bicycles are valued as part of daily transport and recreation. Next year’s conference will convene in Vienna, Austria.