Events
Velo-city is the largest international conference devoted to cycling policy. Velo-City conferences have been jointly organised by the European Cyclist’s Federation (ECF) and the chosen European host city every other year since 1980. During the conference, the Region is seeking to achieve a number of main objectives, which in particular include presenting high-standard cycling infrastructures and obtaining recognition for cycling to be incorporated in a sustainable, intermodal transport policy (cycling, combined with public transport and walking can be more efficient than the car).
For more information about the program, see the Velo-City conference website.
Brussels, Belgium
May 12 - 15 2009
Velo-city 2009 aims to return to the roots of previous Velo-city conferences, in other words, to show the role that cycling plays in urban areas.
More than 60% of Europeans and over half the world’s population live in urban areas, and in the future these figures will be even higher.
Nevertheless, cities are faced with a considerable amount of challenges and problems, such as traffic congestion, road safety, greenhouse gasses, air and noise pollution as well as health-related issues.
One of the key factors in creating habitable cities is an integrated sustainable transport system, and cycling plays a prominent role in this. The characteristics of bicycles prove that cycling is an undeniably urban mode of transport: they don’t take up much space, they’re quick for short distances, they don’t cause pollution and they’re quiet, healthy and cost-effective.
This important challenge of giving cycling a proper place in urban mobility policies has given rise to the theme of Velo-city 2009: RE-CYCLING CITIES. The bike has made a comeback in many European cities, such as Paris, Munich and Barcelona, and has played a pioneering role for years in cities such as Copenhagen, Amsterdam, Munster, Gent and Groningen. Our wish is to see this trend extend to other European cities.
