Going beyond the limits at the Winter Cycling Congress

By

18 Mar, 2020

The 2020 edition of the Winter Cycling Congress rode into Joensuu, Finland. Promoting and encouraging cycling year-round, Joensuu appeared like a perfect host for this refreshing and inspiring event.

The Winter Cycling Federation (WCF) organises the Winter Cycling Congress (WCC) every year since 2013. Gathering advocates and specialists of cycling, the WCC aims to develop winter cycling conditions to reinforce the role of cycling as an everyday form of physical activity (even in extreme weather) and to share the best practices around the world.

For its 8th edition, the WCC set its scene in Joensuu, in Finland. Nordic and very chilly, the city met all criteria to be a perfect host for the 2020 WCC. Joensuu is the face of winter cycling in very ‘wintery’ conditions. According to The Guardian,

“20% of all trips in the city are made by bicycle. This drops by about half in the coldest days of winter but that’s still far better than most Finnish cities”.

A refreshing path to school

For the opening of the congress, participants were welcomed in a school by 5th graders on their bicycles. School children participated to many activities on their bicycles, before they gave the floor to delegates who experimented the pleasure of bicycle’s games under -13 C°. As stated by The Guardian, “Teachers say about half of the children at Joensuu normal school usually arrive by bicycle, even during the icy winters.” This illustrates the spirit and culture that lives in Joensuu.

Dare the cold by cycling

The city has a long tradition of cycling but also in planning for cycling. Cold is not, and should not be, a barrier for cycling. But in order to make it feasible, safe and enjoyable, it has to be properly planned. “If you don’t have a cycle route, it’s almost impossible to cycle during winter”, explains Juha-Pekka Vartiainen, in charge of roads infrastructure for Joensuu. Outside its tradition, the city also thinks ahead by committing to become carbon neutral by 2025, a manageable target only by reducing transport emissions, which make up 70% of the total. The Finnish government appears equally committed, with a funding programme in place for active travel as part of a target to increase walking and cycling by 30% by 2030.

ECF Scandinavian members in force

Among the speakers of the WCC, ECF Scandinavian members were well represented with one presentation delivered by Cykelfrämjandet, the Swedish Cycling Advocacy Association, and three others by Pyöräliitto, the Finish Cyclist Federation. Emilia Stenberg, from Cykelfrämjandet, hosted a workshop on the measurement of the public health impact of cycling in Stockholm region using the WHOs HEAT-tool. On the side of Pyöräliitto, Matti Koistinen gave a presentation on “How to build cities for the joy of winter?”, highlighting the importance of a “Traffic code for cycling”. His colleague Fabrizio Turci informed the participants about their immigrants on wheels project, which aims to offers elementary basic course to everyone with an immigrant background. Finally, Martti Tulenheimo, expert in campaigning and influence marketing, explained how to use social media in campaigning for year-round cycling. In total, more than 40 speakers delivered presentations during the congress, exchanged and shared best practices to further encourage and reinforce winter cycling.

This successful frosty congress will be followed by a slightly warmer edition as the Winter Cycling Congress 2021 will be held in Belgium, in Hasselt.