We launch our mini-interview series with the Velo-city 2019 Keynote Speakers! #VC19Keynote #MeetTheSpeakers #CyclingForTheAges

Ms Amanda Ngabirano is an urban and regional planner, lecturing at Makerere University in Kampala.

She is passionate about planned physical development for sustainability, vitality and inclusiveness and has been involved in several urban development projects locally, regionally as well as internationally, with a particular inclination to urban transport. She is also the Vice President, World Cycling Alliance, board member representing the African continent.

Amanda rides her bicycle in her city Kampala, and sees a huge opportunity in investing in cycling, together with walking, NOW and not later. She tirelessly works closely with her city leadership to give cycling and people, the future they deserve, and is glad to see some admirable results already. Amanda is also a fine, articulate and experienced specialist in communicating urban development issues, no matter the complexity of the subject. Notably, she is one of the most inspiring international speakers, who never leaves her audience the same. She is popularly known as ‘Amanda from Uganda’ and ‘Madam Bicycle’. For more information about Ms Amanda Ngabirano, please visit www.amandangabirano.com .

What does “Cycling for the ages” mean to you?

Cycling to me means freedom, fun, ‘clever’ and an easy option. And so Cycling for the Ages implies cycling should be part of our lives; for as long as we live; from young to old, no matter anything. Cities that always cycled and later saw their cycling numbers drop as well as those whose numbers are actually rising; if clever, both categories will benefit from Cycling for the Ages, if they plan for it.

How will the city of the future look like taking into consideration the gaps in the developing and developed world?

According to what is going on today in terms of effects of unsustainable transport systems in most African cities, the city of the future on our continent is worrying; it will be full of road terror, unequal mobility opportunities, economic leakages, degraded and stinky environment, and a human habitat for the unhealthy and unhappy.

With planning NOW and not latter, and for the people, in a clever way, I see a ray of hope; happy and healthy people in African cities of the future.  We are still a green continent; walking and cycling. And to keep it green in all ways, is our leadership challenge.

What do you expect from Velo-city 2019 Dublin?

And that’s exactly the challenge Velo-city 2019 Dublin also has; to avail a platform for knowledge exchange and information sharing about success and failure stories from some cities, as an opportunity to those who are yet to ‘wake up’ to the fact that global cycling talks aren’t mere activism but real, in terms of the quality of life and economic performance, especially in cities. I expect all continents to participate and to be represented, somehow. Isn’t knowledge power?

Ms. Amanda Ngabirano is a speaker in the first plenary session of Velo-city 2019 Dublin, entitled “The City of the Future” to take place on Tuesday June 25th 2019 at 09.15-10.15. 
More info on the Velo-city 2019 Programme, Speakers and Sessions at: https://www.velo-city2019.com
Early Bird Deadline 1st April 2019 – don’t miss it! https://www.velo-city2019.com/registration