Velo-city

Yearly cycle planning conference, organized by European Cyclists' Federation

Velo-city conference
GenreCycle planning conference
FrequencyAnnual
Inaugurated1980 (Bremen, West Germany)
Previous eventVelo-city 2024 Ghent
Next eventVelo-city 2025 Gdansk
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

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:

Year City Country Theme
1980 Bremen  West Germany
1984 London  United Kingdom
1987 Groningen  Netherlands Planning for the urban cyclist
1989 Copenhagen  Denmark How to make people use the bicycle
1991 Milan  Italy The bicycle: improving mobility and the environment in our cities
1992 Montreal  Canada
1993 Nottingham  United Kingdom
1995 Basel   Switzerland The bicycle, symbol of sustainable transport
1996 Fremantle  Australia
1997 Barcelona  Spain
1999 Graz
Maribor[8]
 Austria
 Slovenia
2000 Amsterdam  Netherlands
2001 Edinburgh
Glasgow[9]
 United Kingdom Partnership for Change
2003 Paris[10]  France The bicycle as an essential tool for winning the city back
2005 Dublin  Ireland Delivering the vision
2007 Munich[11]  Germany From vision to reality
2009 Brussels[12]  Belgium Re-cycling cities
2010 Copenhagen[13]  Denmark Different Gears, Same Destinations
2011 Seville[14]  Seville The Cycle of Life
2012 Vancouver[15]  Canada Cities in Motion
2013 Vienna[16]  Austria The Sound of Cycling – Urban Cycling Cultures
2014 Adelaide[17]  Australia Celebration of Cycling
2015 Nantes[18]  France Cycling: Future Maker
2016 Taipei[19]  Taiwan Evolution of Cycling
2017 Arnhem and Nijmegen[20]  Netherlands Freedom of Cycling
2018 Rio de Janeiro[21]  Brazil Access to Life
2019 Dublin[22]  Ireland Cycling for the Ages
2021 Lisbon[23]  Portugal Cycle Diversity
2022 Ljubljana[24]  Slovenia Cycling the Change
2023 Leipzig[25]  Germany Leading the Transition
2024 Ghent[26][27]  Belgium Connecting through Cycling
2025 Gdansk[28]  Poland Energising Solidarity
2026 Rimini[29]  Italy


  • Velo-city's bike parade in Vienna with 4200 participants.
    Velo-city's bike parade in Vienna with 4200 participants.
  • Randy Neufeld at Velo-city 2012 Vancouver.
    Randy Neufeld at Velo-city 2012 Vancouver.
  • Gil Penalosa at Velo-city 2011 Seville.
    Gil Penalosa at Velo-city 2011 Seville.
  • Bike Parade at Velo-city 2010 Copenhagen.
    Bike Parade at Velo-city 2010 Copenhagen.
  • Sam Adams speaking at Velo-city 2009 Brussels.
    Sam Adams speaking at Velo-city 2009 Brussels.


References

  1. ^ https://ecf.com/projects/velo-city
  2. ^ https://www.ecf.com/news-and-events/news/velo-city-2024-ghent-tuesday-daily-report
  3. ^ https://ecf.com/projects/velo-city
  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. ^ https://www.ecf.com/news-and-events/news/velo-city-2024-ghent-tuesday-daily-report
  7. ^ https://ecf.com/projects/velo-city
  8. ^ Graz Austria and Maribor conference
  9. ^ Edinburgh and Glasgow conference
  10. ^ Paris conference
  11. ^ Munich conference
  12. ^ Brussels conference
  13. ^ Copenhagen conference
  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. ^ [1]
  29. ^ [2]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Velo-city.
  1. Velo-city Global 2014
  2. Velo-city Global 2016 – CI/VI
  3. Velo-city Global 2016 – website