Kinder streets are safer streets

"From every city, in every language, we are fighting the same battle: to build a single kilometre of protected lanes, to bring the speed down to 30, to stop people from dying on the road" said Eugenio Patané, Deputy Mayor for Mobility Roma Capitale, in today’s plenary. He highlighted how with bikelash every new km of protected bike lanes undergoes public trial. The costs are more immediately visible than the long-term benefits and end up creating opposition unless the vision is clearly explained – a struggle also confirmed by Orsolya Liptay of Hungary’s Kerekparosklub. 

Still, bike-lash implies that there was something happening before, often a success! Caroline Lodemann from ADFC shared the German experience, where projects get silently reviewed to slow down or unmake progress. So, let’s be bluntly kind, remembering that the arguments for cycling are solid, evidence-backed and more popular than we know. 
 
For Sarah Mitchell from Cycling UK, the strategy is simple: argue, repeat, argue, repeat, get bored, repeat. We all know the arguments; we have known them for a long time - we just need to bring the silent majority to speak up. Not to exclude citizens and appeal to politically opposed segments of the audience, she’s shifting the focus to individual benefits. Cycling means clean air in your street, freedom and independence, and a welcome throwback to the “good old days” when children could still play in the streets. 

In Spain, the goal has been to show that biking is a friendly and human activity – by sharing good practices, building strong alliances in the field, empowering the next generation, and promoting health. When a Spanish doctor will hand you a vitamin box with cycling tips instead of pills, think back to Conbici’s Belén Colahorro! 

Wim Bot’s closing remark wrapped up the vision, ambition, leadership and advocacy that have been a permanent feature of the 13 (!) Velo-city editions he has attended since 2008 as a representative of the Dutch Fietsersbond. Quoting the Italian thinker Antonio Gramsci, he invited us to use pessimism of the intellect and optimism of the will, and to keep advocating for a kinder mobility.

To close off the plenary, ECF announced the winner of the scavenger hunt. One lucky winner walked away with a limited edition Team GB Brompton bike. We wish them many happy rides!
   

From failure to success: Stories about budgets, community resistance and persistence

“Wouldn’t it be great if we could update our streets the way apps on our phones are updated?” someone asked from the audience. “You wake up to find new cycle lanes and bike parking, and everyone simply accepts it.” In reality, changes to street space rarely happen overnight. This session showed that it requires consultation, political support, and the involvement of many stakeholders.

The speakers explored what happens when cycling projects meet public resistance, and what can be learned from it. In Bangkok, a bike lane pilot lasted less than 24 hours before being removed. Yet it also sparked the creation of the Bangkok Urban Cycling Alliance, which now advocates for everyday cycling and bridges communication between residents and government. In Dublin, extensive consultation built support but still led to compromises and fewer cycling sections than originally planned. Budapest shared lessons from its first bike shelter project and how those informed later improvements. The key takeaway: you can’t win everyone over. But engaging people early, meeting them where they are, and treating projects as opportunities to learn and improve can make all the difference. 
 

What else happened?

ECF x Content With Purpose
Audiences after the plenary were given an exclusive look at the digital series produced in collaboration between ECF and Content with Purpose. The video series celebrates cycling as a catalyst for healthier people, thriving communities, and a more sustainable future for Europe. The series will officially launch during European Mobility Week in September 2026, followed by an extensive digital campaign across ECF’s network and beyond. Watch the video here if you missed it!
  New CRC Member: Niterói
The city of Niterói, Brazil signed an application to join the Cities & Regions for Cyclists network. Mayor Rodrigo Neves, accompanied by a large Brazilian delegation, met with ECF President Henk Swarttouw and ECF CEO Laurianne Krid.  

Ciao Rimini, Konnichiwa Ehime!

“Change is not a destination but a direction of a long journey that we travel together,” said Mattia Morolli, Deputy Mayor for Mobility of the City of Rimini. Velo-city 2026 officially came to an end with some closing remarks from Valentina Ridolfi, Deputy Mayor of Rimini, highlighting that Velo-citizens have brought so much colour and joy to the city.

Laurianne Krid, CEO of ECF, echoes this message, emphasising that we channel this optimism in our work and lead with perseverance. “At ECF, we remain tireless advocates for cycling. There is always a way to start and always something to be done,” she said.

Although the sun set in Italy, it will rise in the east next year in Japan. Rimini passed the baton to the Ehime prefecture, officially presenting them as the host of Velo-city 2027. Tokihiro Nakamura, governor of Ehime Prefecture, shared a short film highlighting the region’s rich tradition and transition to a new cycling era with locals, tourism, and the environment at its centre. This is the first time Velo-city is taking place in Japan. The conference will take place from 25-28 May 2027 in Matsuyama, the picturesque capital of Ehime Prefecture located in northwest Shikoku. To end, Nakamura invited all Velo-citizens to come to Japan and “ride the future with us”!