Velo-city

Wikipedia

Velo-city conference
GenreCycle planning conference
FrequencyAnnual
Inaugurated1980 (Bremen, West Germany)
Previous eventVelo-city 2025 Gdansk
Next eventVelo-city 2026 Rimini
Organised byEuropean Cyclists' Federation
Websitewww.velo-city-conference.com

Velo-city is a conference series of cycle planning conferences that started in 1980 in Bremen, where advocates, cities, decision makers, academics, researchers and industry leaders meet to shape the future of cycling.

As annual flagship event of the European Cyclists’ Federation, Velo-city plays a valuable part in promoting cycling as a sustainable and healthy means of transport for all.[1]

Hosted in a different city every year, the conference offers a knowledge-exchange and policy-transfer platform through its programme to more than 1600 Velo-citizens from over 60 countries[2] involved in the policy, promotion of cycling, active mobility and sustainable urban development. In addition, the conference exhibition showcases the latest innovations for a better cycling experience. Answering the growing demand for expertise in cycling from cities, ECF has decided to hold an annual Velo-city conference in 2010.[3]

Selection process

The European Cyclists’ Federation conducts international bidding processes, encouraging cities committed to sustainable and active mobility to apply for future conferences.[4] After a period when public and local authorities are allowed to bid, ECF Board is in charge of assessing the proposals of cities for the title according to criteria specified in candidacy.

Every year, a host city is chosen for the edition coming in a three years time.[5]

History

The German entrepreneur and cycling advocate Manfred Neun speaks at Velo-city in 2009

Hosted in a different city every year, the conference offers a knowledge-exchange and policy-transfer platform through its programme to more than 1600 Velo-citizens from over 60 countries[6] involved in the policy, promotion of cycling, active mobility and sustainable urban development. In addition, the conference exhibition showcases the latest innovations for a better cycling experience.

Answering the growing demand for expertise in cycling from cities, ECF has decided to hold an annual Velo-city conference in 2010.[7]

List of host cities

Velo-city editions have been held in these locations with the following themes:

YearCityCountryTheme
1980Bremen West Germany
1984London United Kingdom
1987Groningen NetherlandsPlanning for the urban cyclist
1989Copenhagen DenmarkHow to make people use the bicycle
1991Milan ItalyThe bicycle: improving mobility and the environment in our cities
1992Montreal Canada
1993Nottingham United Kingdom
1995Basel  SwitzerlandThe bicycle, symbol of sustainable transport
1996Fremantle Australia
1997Barcelona Spain
1999Graz
Maribor[8]
Austria
Slovenia
2000Amsterdam Netherlands
2001Edinburgh
Glasgow[9]
United KingdomPartnership for Change
2003Paris[10] FranceThe bicycle as an essential tool for winning the city back
2005Dublin IrelandDelivering the vision
2007Munich[11] GermanyFrom vision to reality
2009Brussels[12] BelgiumRe-cycling cities
2010Copenhagen[13] DenmarkDifferent Gears, Same Destinations
2011Seville[14] SpainThe Cycle of Life
2012Vancouver[15] CanadaCities in Motion
2013Vienna[16] AustriaThe Sound of Cycling – Urban Cycling Cultures
2014Adelaide[17] AustraliaCelebration of Cycling
2015Nantes[18] FranceCycling: Future Maker
2016Taipei[19] TaiwanEvolution of Cycling
2017Arnhem and Nijmegen[20] NetherlandsFreedom of Cycling
2018Rio de Janeiro[21] BrazilAccess to Life
2019Dublin[22] IrelandCycling for the Ages
2021Lisbon[23] PortugalCycle Diversity
2022Ljubljana[24] SloveniaCycling the Change
2023Leipzig[25] GermanyLeading the Transition
2024Ghent[26][27] BelgiumConnecting through Cycling
2025Gdańsk[28] PolandEnergizing Solidarity
2026Rimini[29] ItalyDelivering the Urban Dream
2027Ehime Prefecture[30] Japan
2028 Geneva[31]  Switzerland

References

  1. "Velo-city". 24 March 2021.
  2. "Velo-city 2024 Ghent: Tuesday Daily Report". 18 June 2024.
  3. "Velo-city". 24 March 2021.
  4. "Velo-city | FAQ". Velo-city-conference.com. Retrieved 2 August 2024.
  5. "Velo-city | ECF – European Cyclists' Federation". Ecf.com. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  6. "Velo-city 2024 Ghent: Tuesday Daily Report". 18 June 2024.
  7. "Velo-city". 24 March 2021.
  8. Graz Austria and Maribor conference
  9. Edinburgh and Glasgow conference
  10. Paris conference
  11. Munich conference
  12. Brussels conference
  13. "Copenhagen conference". Archived from the original on 11 January 2013. Retrieved 15 June 2009.
  14. Seville conference
  15. Vancouver conference
  16. Vienna conference
  17. Adelaide conference
  18. Nante conference
  19. Taipei City conference
  20. Arnhem and Nijmegen conference
  21. Rio de Janeiro conference
  22. Dublin conference
  23. Lisboa conference
  24. Ljubljana conference
  25. Leipzig conference
  26. "Velo-city 2024: Ghent wins bid to host the world cycling summit". ECF. 18 May 2022. Retrieved 20 May 2022.
  27. "Call for abstracts".
  28. "Velo-city 2025: Gdańsk to host the world cycling summit". 15 February 2023.
  29. "Velo-city 2026: Rimini wins bid to host the world cycling summit". 30 January 2024.
  30. "Ehime Prefecture wins bid to host Velo-city 2027: A first for Japan!". 30 January 2025.
  31. "Geneva to Host Velo-city 2028 conference: Pushing for cycling Beyond Borders". 17 April 2025.
  1. Velo-city Global 2014
  2. Velo-city Global 2016 – CI/VI
  3. Velo-city Global 2016 – website