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Velo-city: the world cycling summit

Velo-city is where advocates, cities, decision makers, academics, researchers and industry leaders meet to shape the future of cycling. Find out more on the dedicated Velo-city website here.

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. Like no other event, the conference offers a knowledge-exchange and policy-transfer platform to the growing number of more than 1500 Velo-citizens from over 60 countries involved in the policy, promotion and provision for cycling, active mobility and sustainable urban development. The conference exhibition showcases the latest innovations for a better cycling experience in cities and beyond!

This year, in Germany we have been Leading the Transition in Leipzig from 9-12 May 2023 for Velo-city 2023! Next year we will be Connecting through Cycling in Ghent (Belgium) from 18-21 June 2024! Find out more on the Velo-city website (www.velo-city-conference.com)  

The conferences are designed to encourage cycling as part of daily transport and recreation. Velo-city began in 1980 in Bremen (Germany) with deep ties in the founding of the European Cyclists’ Federation. Since then, conferences have been held in cities all over the world including Copenhagen, Brussels, Seville, Vancouver, Vienna, Adelaide, Nantes and Taipei. Velo-city conferences are now attracting about 1,500 delegates from more than 60 different countries.

Velo-city conferences bring together those involved in the policy, promotion and the provision of cycling facilities and programs. Advocates, engineers, planners, architects, researchers, environmentalists, business and industry representatives join forces with public authorities at all levels ranging from local politicians to policy and decision makers at regional, national or international level. They share knowledge and foster policy transfer in order to build effective trans-national partnerships to deliver benefits worldwide.

Answering the growing demand for expertise in cycling from cities, ECF has decided to hold an annual Velo-city conference in 2010.  

Key figures

1400 +

participants

250 +

speakers

60 +

countries

70 +

exhibitors

4M +

social reach

Goals and objectives of Velo-city series

Velo-city is a unique conference that attracts a growing number of diverse participants each year. Part of this growth comes from a clear goal: The main goal of the conference is to leave all participants as well as other target groups enriched and inspired.

While reaching the main goal, Velo-city includes subsequent objectives:

  • Spread high quality knowledge, good new information about cycling, and transport planning at international level.
  • Cities with good cycling policies to showcase the benefits they provide to their citizens, businesses and others through the conference generated publicity.
  • Encourage the recognition of cycling as an efficient, healthy, environmentally friendly mode of transport and promote its greater use.
  • Integrate cycle planning into transport, land-use planning and other relevant policy sectors where cycling plays an important role.
  • Seek involvement from all relevant stakeholders (universities/academia, decision makers, local, regional and national governments, international institutions).
  • Involve and support local cycling associations and civil society organizations.

Velo-city at a glance

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Testimonials

  • (…) We started from the bicycle but actually entered into the city, into the real community life, through the bicycle anyway. We got into public transport, we got into open spaces, we got into parks, squares, so I think that Velo-city played big role in inspiring other cities.

    - Amanda Ngabirano, Acting Chairperson at The National Physical Planning Board (NPPB) Uganda

  • Velo-city conference offers (…) outstanding moments of exposure to policy makers from around the world. It’s also a fantastic networking moment, both internationally and for our network internally. I think Velo-city is without doubt our annual highlight.

    - Lucas Harms, Managing Director at the Dutch Cycling Embassy

  • My most memorable moment was (…) when we were cycling along an elevated motorway in Tapei, the little girl next to me told her father “Look papa, I'm flying", as she could see in the people’s houses next to her. I realized then that cycling is (…) also a way to dream & that was a dream come true for her.

    - Philippe Crist, Advisor, Innovation and Foresight at ITF - International Transport Forum

  • The most inspiring [aspect from Velo-city] is not a single moment, but the enduring friendships that have been built. The parade are always exciting, they always remind me that building cycling is not just a technocratic exercise, it's about people, it's about those friendships

    - Peter Cox, University of Chester & Chair, ECF Scientists for Cycling network

  • I think that was back in 2008, I was the mayor for technical and environmental affairs in the city of Copenhagen, and I was invited to give a talk at Velo-city Munich (…) I remember coming on stage and feeling that enormous interest there was for hearing about the Copenhagen cycling experience

    - Klaus Bondam, CEO at The Danish Cyclists' Federation

  • The most inspiring thing with Velo-city, was in Nantes in 2015, when I realized that there are so many opportunities in cycling advocacy, and not only in Europe but worldwide, (…) so I decided to quiet my regular job and just go into cycling.

    - Tena Šarić, Executive Coordinator at Sindikat biciklista

  • It's not an easy task to prepare a huge bike parade in a city during a weekday, but in Nantes, in 2015, it was really amazing. All the streets were gridlocked, with a huge bike parade, (…) drivers were honking their horns unstoppably, (…) they were cheering to us.

    - Ze Lobo, Executive Director at Transporte Ativo

  • At Velo-city 2012 in Vancouver, I understood that it is not about representing people that cycle, it's about representing and inviting people to cycle, that do not dare to cycle (…) That changed a lot for me and for other organisations. It was really worth the trip.

    - Burkhard Stork, Former Director at German Cyclists' Association

  • For my first Velo-city conference, I heard a very inspiring sentence: “If women ride bicycles in a city, men and children will try too”. I went back to my country and created one of the biggest cycling movements: Fancy Women Bike Ride.

    - Pinar Pinzuti, Marketing Manager at Bikenomist

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