The European Cyclists' Federation has announced that the world cycling congress Velo-city will be held in Gdańsk in 2025. The city is excellently prepared to host the annual conference and meets all the conditions to be the first city in this part of Europe to host this prestigious event.
The theme proposed by Gdańsk for Velo-city Gdańsk 2025 won the approval of the ECF committee. It is “Energising Solidarity”. The slogan reflects the city's heritage and its commitment to promoting social change through the popularisation of cycling.
– The ECF is delighted to award the organisation of Velo-city 2025 to Gdańsk – a wonderful city that consistently invests in the development of cycling. It is one of the key cities in the EuroVelo cycle route network, where three important European routes intersect. After decades of cooperation with Gdańsk within our Cities and Regions for Cycling network, we are confident that Velo-city 2025 will be an unforgettable event – says Jill Warren, Chief Executive Officer of the ECF.
– Using a bicycle every day is the most environmentally friendly and efficient way to travel around the city. That is why we have been investing in the development of cycling infrastructure in Gdańsk for many years. We are supported in this by the residents themselves, who successfully propose and vote through further projects as part of the Participatory Budget – emphasises Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, Mayor of Gdańsk. – Our measurements confirm that the residents of Gdańsk are increasingly keen to use this means of transport. That is why I am delighted that the most important cycling congress in the world, Velo-city, will be held in Gdańsk in 2025 – adds Aleksandra Dulkiewicz.
Velo-city – an international brand
Velo-city is the most important international cycling conference. It is an annual gathering of the broadly defined cycling industry, serving to build contacts and inspire one another in promoting the green transformation of cities. Since its first edition in 1980, the event has become the flagship gathering of the European Cyclists' Federation, drawing hundreds of participants from dozens of countries every year.
Velo-city plays a major role in promoting the bicycle as a healthy and environmentally friendly means of transport and recreation. Considerable attention is devoted to the role of universal design in preventing the exclusion of the most vulnerable users of public spaces, such as older people and children. The accompanying trade fair, meanwhile, is an opportunity to showcase related technological innovations. Last year Velo-city was held in beautiful Ljubljana; in 2023 it will take place in Leipzig on 9–12 May, and the 2024 edition will be held in Ghent. Cities that have hosted Velo-city over the years have seen an increase in the share of cycling in everyday transport.
There is no doubt that the same will hold true for the Gdańsk edition of the event. This edition will also give further impetus to the development of cycling infrastructure in our city. Hosting such a prestigious conference of global scope cements Gdańsk's position among the most cycling-friendly cities. It is a unique opportunity to exchange experiences and seek inspiration that will help make effective use of our city's cycling potential. The conference also brings a host of accompanying events that will be a great attraction for residents. We can expect the arrival of more than a thousand participants from all over the world. Among them will be not only experts and representatives of the leading cycling organisations, but also representatives of government institutions, local authorities, Western NGOs and business.
– I firmly believe that the vast majority of participants will fall in love with Gdańsk and include the capital of Pomerania in their future cycling travel plans. The “return effect”, already known from previous major events held in Gdańsk, along with the promotional dimension of this event, cannot be overestimated – emphasises Piotr Kryszewski, Deputy Mayor for Municipal Services.
Time for Gdańsk
The Gdańsk edition of Velo-city 2025 will take place in June at the Amber Expo Exhibition and Congress Centre of the Gdańsk International Fair Co. The organisers of the event are the European Cyclists' Federation, the City of Gdańsk, the Marshal's Office of the Pomeranian Voivodeship, Międzynarodowe Targi Gdańskie Sp. z o.o., the Polish Active Mobility Union – PUMA, and the Gdańsk Tourist Organisation.
Gdańsk continues to build its image as a cycling city, making extensive use of the bicycle in transport, recreation and tourism. Its cycling infrastructure currently comprises more than 850 km of various types of cycle routes. Some of these form part of the three EuroVelo routes running through the city: EuroVelo 9, the Baltic–Adriatic Route, EuroVelo 10, the Baltic Sea Cycle Route, and EuroVelo 13, the Iron Curtain Trail.
Gdańsk has bold strategic plans, the implementation of which will allow the full potential of cycling to be realised. The city has been carrying out cycling investments and projects for more than 20 years, and for the past 10 years it has had a coherent strategy for developing its cycle route network, which has been recognised by cycling organisations. In 2019 it adopted a Sustainable Urban Mobility Plan (SUMP).
City of Solidarity
Gdańsk is known as the city where Solidarity was born – the independent trade union that played a key role in overthrowing communist rule in Poland. Velo-city Gdańsk draws on this legacy, which is why the event's theme will be solidarity. The city hopes to inspire the cycling community to promote cycling as a way of jointly saving energy – not only electrical energy or energy derived from raw materials. It is also about strengthening the energy behind social action and the mutual inspiration each of us can offer.
In the run-up to the event, the city intends to continue developing cycling. Planned measures include the construction of a network of eco-routes totalling 36.8 km and the modernisation of 30 km of cycle routes. In addition, cycling traffic is to be given priority at 16 key points in Gdańsk's road network, and eight cycle crossings are to be rebuilt where they intersect with main roads. The development of 30 km/h zones will continue, along with the modernisation of recreational and commuter cycle routes. In 2023 the MEVO 2.0 public bike-sharing system will resume, with 75% of the entire bicycle fleet electrically assisted.
source: www.gdansk.pl
