Photo courtesy of bikefestival.gr

For one more year, the Athens Bike Festival welcomed thousands of cycling fans in Technopolis complex. More than 34.000 visitors crossed the gates of Technopolis during the three-day celebration. There is no doubt that there is an increasing interest for bicycles and cycling in the city. More than 60 exhibitors presented the models that we will see in the stores in the beginning of 2015, as well as accessories and equipment. Companies offering services to cyclists were also present. The thousands of visitors also had the chance to participate in a number of interesting events and activities.

The entirety of the festival was organized by ECF member ‘cities for cyclists’ and even included a conference, entitled “bicycle, a wheel of growth” which saw over 100 participants hear about exciting new projects and investments in cycling that are taking place in Greece. Elina Baltatzi, our own Communications Officer here at ECF, addressed the conference on bicycle entrepreneurship in European countries as well as the potential funding opportunities available to local projects and authorities.

The Athens Bike festival participants also witnessed a major announcement that will please Athenian cyclists. On the first day of the festival the Mayor of Athens, George Kaminis, together with the Minister of Environment Yiannis Maniatis announced the creation of the “Athens Metropolitan Cycle Route” which will be 28km long and will connect all the mains hubs of the city. The infrastructure will cost 11 million euro and is expected by the end of 2015.

Here are a few numbers to illustrate the successes of the Athens bike festival, taken from its website. Check out bikefestival.gr to find out more about this yearly event!

The 5th Athens Bike Festival in numbers:

‘’Bicycle, a wheel of growth’’ conference

64 exhibitors
More than 250 brands
34.000 visitors
350 well dressed ladies on their bikes
25 speakers from Greece and abroad
85 employees
1 amazing presenter
5 crazy German riders
1 Dj
1 radio station transmitting live from the Festival – none other than Pepper 96.6
2 charity organisations
1 instagram contest from Subaru
1 contest from Gatsoulis Bikes
1 contest with 4 bikes as prizes from Tsirikos Bikes
1 contest from Lucozade
2500 in the parking area
1 barber with a bike to serve our visitors’ needs and...

... endless fun!