Dear Pre/amblers,

I've never been to Vancouver but I've been getting acquainted with it online. My reading has led me to believe that it is one of those rare North American cities that encourage walking. Could you walk it for me?

Your walk will be spiral-shaped, a bit pixellated too, as it looks as if the streets around Western Front are arranged in a grid. You can beat the grid by walking in circles beginning at 303 E. 8th ave (the center) and moving outwards, then about halfway through the walk, you'll spiral back in to end up at WF again. Here is a map showing how I envision this walk. This arbitrary constraint provides you with as a way of visiting as much of the surrounding area as possible. You'll have to use your own judgment regarding how far out you can go in the allotted time. The map doesn't indicate topographical features such as hills and doesn't include temporary obstacles like closed-off streets or construction sites.

As you take the walk please chart your path and note your impressions so that afterwards you can answer an online questionnaire about your experience. In addition, digitized photos, sketches or recordings would be most welcome. A group of art students at the Université Paris 1 in Fontenay-aux-Roses (France) will use your responses to write and illustrate stories about Vancouver, a city none of them has ever visited. They will post these collaborative stories online as part of A Map Larger Than the Territory.

Thank you and enjoy!

Karen O'Rourke

contact : orourke at univ-paris1 dot fr