Velo-city 2025
Gdańsk
10-13 June 2025

Cycle with us

                 
   

Energizing Solidarity

Building a high-quality programme

Every year in mid-September, ECF and the host city launch an international general call for abstracts as well as an academic call for abstracts (curated separately by the ECF Scientists for Cycling network) to encourage high-quality submissions on active mobility and sustainable urban development.  All presentations included in the conference programme must be submitted through the online platform. After both calls close in November, all abstracts undergo a two-step evaluation process based on the review of 80 international mobility experts. Each abstract is reviewed by three different experts. In January, the Velo-city Programme Team builds the programme with the highest rated ones being included in the final programme.

 

Discover the main theme Energizing Solidarity and the subthemes here below!



Energizing Solidarity

Solidarity—an empathic, transformative force embraced by the citizens of Gdańsk in the 1980s—remains a powerful and enduring symbol, deeply woven into the city's identity. The globally recognized Solidarity movement embodies the collective aspiration to improve living conditions through unity and shared goals.

 

Similarly, cycling represents not only freedom and sustainability but it also symbolises the power to foster connection and joy. By promoting healthier lifestyles, road space reallocation and more equitable mobility systems, cycling can drive transformative change while contributing to the decarbonisation of transport and boosting the economy.

People are at the heart of Velo-city. We invite experts to share their work and discuss how cycling can energize people and lead a gentle revolution towards decarbonised and fair mobility systems and cities for all.

 

Subthemes and priority topics

The Social Power of Cycling

Cycling transcends transportation purposes: it has the potential of becoming a catalyst for stronger communities, inclusiveness, and social equity. In today’s hyperconnected world, how can cycling create stronger in-person connections and contribute to vibrant and safe public spaces? How can we encourage respectful dialogue between different road users and promote understanding instead of aggression? This subtheme delves into different ways of how to address the needs of diverse groups, contribute to placemaking and foster understanding.

Priority topics

  • Inclusion & diversity:
    • Responding to the needs of children & youth, an ageing population, women, families
    • Addressing the needs of underserved groups: pregnant people, people with disabilities, disadvantaged communities, frail elderly people
  • Approaching car-drivers
  • Fostering conviviality amongst different road users: Changing the public discourse for positive communication and fighting bikelash
  • Urban planning to re-connect citizens in safe environments: 15-minute city, Superblocks, placemaking practices, circulation plans, pedestrianisations…
  • The transformative power of community rides.

Shaping the Urban Transformation Together

Through this subtheme we focus on the collaborative efforts needed to create the right infrastructure and an integrated mobility offer for sustainable and resilient cities. We wish to highlight the importance of dialogue and collective action—bringing together all urban mobility stakeholders and decision-makers to reimagine our streets, our governance models and our mobility systems, to ensure our cities are ready to face the challenges of the climate crisis.

Priority topics

  • Integrated transport authorities and new governance models for an integrated mobility system (public transport, train, cycling, walking, bike-sharing, micromobility, car-sharing)
  • Growing together instead of cannibalizing each other: advancing the modal shift from private car trips to sustainable mobility options
  • Data collection, trip planners, MaaS, wayfinding, reporting of problems
  • Reducing road fatalities through traffic calming solutions
  • New cycling trends: Fat-bikes and others
  • Innovative infrastructure solutions: Intersections, cycle highways, road space reallocation, treelined cycle paths, invisible infrastructure, mobility hubs, cycle parking
  • Preventing bicycle theft and European/national initiatives

Political Solidarity for a Just Transition

A just transition should ensure that the benefits of green transport policies are shared widely, while also supporting those, who stand to lose and leave no one behind. More active mobility leads to more just societies. How can we ensure that alliances are forged between relevant stakeholders and political leaders that recognize this to drive the change? We need to share best practices and transfer knowledge, while being aware of potential downsides to turn them into jumping ground for innovative solutions. The car is still a symbol of status and freedom for many which is a barrier that jeopardizes sustainable mobility choices. This subtheme addresses the fair implementation of ambitious, forward-thinking (cycling) policies that foster solidarity and well-being.

 

Priority topics

  • Examining policies against mobility justice and countering gentrification.
  • Encouraging knowledge transfer from advanced to less advanced cities
  • Changing the image of active mobility after Central and Eastern Europe’s system transformation
  • Supporting a more bike-friendly post-war Ukraine
  • Ensuring the harmonised implementation of the European Declaration on Cycling and European directives such as cycle parking qualitative standards for buildings (EPBD- Energy Performance of Buildings Directive) and the inclusion of cycling in large infrastructure projects (TEN-T- trans-European transport network).
  • Funding and financing opportunities, such as the Social Climate Fund
  • Fiscal incentives

Cycling for Joy and Health

Cycling is a gateway to joy, health, and a deeper connection with the world around us. No wonder more and more people enjoy cycling as a sport, for leisure or during their holidays. Cycling tourism is booming, offering the opportunity to discover new places and get to know new people in a sustainable way.

How could we attract more recreational cyclists to also use their cycles as everyday transport modes?  Can cycling tourism routes support more cycling in rural areas? With increasing homeworking, enabling more people to cycle safely is an important way to counter the lack of physical activity and offer flexible mobility choices. It also helps to unwind and fight mental health issues. Through this subtheme we wish to explore the numerous benefits of cycling that extend beyond its role as a transportation mode.

Priority topics

  • Modal shift: How recreational cycling can lead to daily cycling, the impact of large events,
  • Cycling tourism routes for commuting,
  • Cycling tourism: positive health and CO2 emissions saving impacts,
  • Cycling for better mental health,
  • Cycling in suburban and rural areas.

Cycling to Boost the Economy and Save Energy

More cycling can have an impressive impact on our economy: not only does it reduce our dependence on fossil fuels, but it also creates jobs locally and eases the burden on health budgets. It can be pivotal in generating new green jobs across various sectors, from the building sector to the bicycle industry or urban logistics. With the need to decarbonise transport, the boom in e-commerce and food delivery forces transition towards cycle logistics and more cycle friendly employers. How can bike-sharing support this? The role of active forms of mobility in energy transition is often overlooked or underestimated. This subtheme looks at the potential of cycling for our economies and the prospects of the European cycling industry.

Priority topics

  • Job creation potential of the cycling sector,
  • Building up the cycling industry in Europe and beyond,
  • The economic impact of cycling,
  • Cycle logistics and cargo bikes,
  • Cycling to work and cycle friendly employers,
  • Bike-sharing and bike leasing.