Our conference was founded on the belief that greater access to walking and bicycling will create healthier individuals, cohesive neighborhoods, and vibrant communities.
We started with a hundred idealistic cyclists in 1980 and we called ourselves Pro Bike. Then we evolved because we found common cause with walking: streets that are unsafe for biking are also difficult to cross for pedestrians. In 2012, under the stewardship of Project for Public Spaces, we added the final piece: Place. We meet every two years for three days and we have grown over 10-fold in our 30+ year history.
The 20th Walk/Bike/Places in New Orleans is expected to draw 1,500+ city planners, transportation engineers, public health professionals, elected officials, community leaders, and professional walking and bicycling advocates.
Our breakout sessions, panel discussions, and mobile workshops address the latest trends, research, and best practices. Plenary speakers bring perspectives from other disciplines, and other experiences to help improve and expand our practice.
To get a sense of our conference programming, peruse our 2016 schedule for session highlights, and research found here.
Walk/Bike/Places Conference will convene in New Orleans, September 16-19, 2018. The timing could not be more perfect, as New Orleans will be celebrating its 300th birthday while we celebrate our 20th conference! Join us for a remarkable experience in a city that is best appreciated by foot, and traverse some of the 2,650 miles of sidewalks that connect the city's culturally vibrant neighborhoods and places.
If you prefer to bike, rest assured that New Orleans has you covered with bike share, which will launch in 2017. And if statistics are your thing, New Orleans's 2.8 percent bike-to-work mode share beats all but 7 of the most populous U.S. cities. For our placemakers, we cannot think of a more unique and vibrant city in North America. At the conference you will enjoy dynamic public spaces brimming with music, art, and people. But most of all, in this city full of improvisation and life, you will directly experience what Jane Jacobs called the "ballet of the sidewalk.” We can't wait to meet you in New Orleans!
