January 6, 2003 – Victoria's Capital Bike and Walk Society is releasing a Call for Presentations for next September's Pro Walk/Pro Bike conference in Victoria, BC. The conference is hosted by the National Centre for Bicycling and Walking in Washington, DC and will bring an estimated 700 delegates to the capital from September 7 – 10, 2004.

The theme of the conference is “Creating Active Communities”, to focus attention on the links between health and community design. Victoria's extensive network of bicycle facilities and pedestrian friendly neighbourhoods will be showcased during the conference. Delegates include engineers, planners, health care practitioners, law enforcement officials, and community leaders involved in creating liveable communities.

Held every second year since 1980, the Victoria conference is only the second time it has come to Canada. Delegates have been equipped with skills and strategies for creating new programs and innovative infrastructure to grow participation in walking in cycling across North America.

Victoria was awarded the conference in 2002 and plans have been taking shape since the decision was announced. The Society is the local host committee for the conference and is assisting conference owners to develop programs, local content and Canadian participation in the conference. Registration details for conference delegates are expected to be released in February.

The National Center for Bicycling & Walking (NCBW), in Washington, DC, is now soliciting presentation proposals for Pro Walk/Pro Bike 2004, the 13th International Symposium on Bicycling and Walking to be held September 7-10, 2004, in Victoria, British Columbia.

The theme of Pro Walk/Pro Bike 2004 is “Creating Active Communities” through bicycling and walking. The goal is to give participants the tools to make it happen.

Over the past several years, we have seen a growing concern over the alarming rise of obesity and related diseases, due in part to inactivity. This long-term trend – begun decades ago — has paralleled a decline in walking and bicycling, a shift that has also accompanied the rise of the automobile as the default mode of transportation. Many observers now understand the importance of reversing these trends by fostering pedestrian and bicycle travel. We believe these efforts will pay dividends in public health and community life. Hence, our theme – Creating Active Communities.

Under our Active Communities theme, there are many possibilities for contributions from a wide variety of participants. To this end, we have created a set of 5 major sub-themes:

1. Creating active community partnerships 2. Crafting active community policies and plans 3. Developing active community programs 4. Building facilities for active communities 5. Creating the provincial/state/national context

Within these sub-themes, we will accept proposals to do sessions on a range of topics, most of which will fall into the following categories: o Best practices o Common roadblocks and urban myths o “How-to's” o Case studies o Research/evaluationo

Applicants may also choose among a variety of presentation approaches, including panel discussions, lectures – both long and short – and participatory workshops.

Those interested in submitting a proposal should use our online presentation proposal form at: http://www.bikewalk.org/PWPB2004/proposal_form.htm

Submissions are due by February 15th and will be reviewed by a panel of experts.

Successful applicants will be notified by April 1, 2004. Presenters will then have until June 1st to submit final presentation information in order to have their submissions included in the Conference book and on the conference web site program listing.