After four days of sessions and events bringing together the top spokespersons from all the relevant fields related to cycling, Velo-city Taipei is finally over. More than 1000 delegates from 43 countries attended the conference, setting a new record among all Velo-city conferences outside Europe. But the atmosphere at the Closing Plenary was charged with excitement: this is not the end of a conference, but the beginning of a new period, a new evolution in cycling.  

Velo-city Taipei 2016 had everything. From industry leaders like John Burke (TREK), Tony Lo (GIANT) & Armin Landgraf (PON) to world renowned urban planners such as Riccardo Andrea Marini (Gehl Studio) and Julia Nebrija (World Bank). The hottest topics on business, advocacy and cutting-edge design technology were discussed by over 160 speakers. From Copenhagen to Manila and from Jakarta to New York, delegates took off on a global cycling tour and experienced a unique dialogue between the East and the West.

“For the first time ever we have governments, industry and consumers being a strong part of Velo-city and this makes this summit truly global” said Manfred Neun, President of the European Cyclists’ Federation and the World Cycling Alliance. “We need the big numbers, the big goals and the big figures to make a global change. And we can do that together”. . Industries, advocates, public authorities have all received enough inspiring ideas and motivation to renew their efforts in promoting cycling.

"Industry came in strong this year at Velo-city" declared Manfred "And will join the advocacy efforts for the promotion of daily cycling. Governments have shown that they put people at the very centre of their development plans. We would like to thank the city of Taipei for being an example in these topics and for making Velo-city 2016 a success!"

At the end of the ceremony, the Velo-city emblem was handed from Taipei to Arnhem-Nijmegen in the Netherlands. “We are very impressed by what we have seen and experienced here in Taipei. You are bridging the gap between technology and human scale. Bridges are a metaphor for collaboration and freedom, like our two cities prosper by working together. Our theme will be about the Freedom of Cycling: the freedom to live in an inclusive society”, said Herman Kaiser, Mayor of Arnhem.

Nijmegen’s Vice Mayor Harriet Tiemens added: “Our cities Arnhem-Nijmegen are very honoured to be hosting the next Velo-city conference 2017 on behalf of the Netherlands”. 

You can catch up with all the daily rounds ups and session summaries here:

• Day 1
• Day 2
• Day 3
• Day 4

If you want to recap Velo-city as it happened, check out the livepage here.