“Leading the transition” was the theme of the European Cyclists’ Federation’s annual summit Velo-city held this week (9-12 May) in Leipzig, Germany. Each year, the conference unites more than 1400 advocates, cities, researchers and industry leaders to exchange knowledge on the promotion and provision for cycling, active mobility and sustainable urban development.
As part of this week’s debates, the Cycling for All team from the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) sat on a panel alongside representatives of Ghent (Belgium), Ljubljana (Slovenia), Rotterdam (Netherlands) and UCI Bike City Copenhagen (Denmark).
The UCI’s Cycling for All Coordinator Valentin Hasler explained the UCI’s work to ensure the respect of cycling’s dual role: to cater to Elite athletes but also to promote the use of the bike for everyone.
One example of the UCI’s efforts in this domain is to ask hosts of UCI Road World Championships to organise a mass participation event for amateur and every-day cyclists.
“Major events such as our UCI World Championships are ideal occasions to motivate populations to participate in Cycling for All events,” says Valentin Hasler. “They are also opportunities to capture attention and gather momentum for change towards active mobility and more liveable cities.”
To encourage event hosts to adopt a wider, all-inclusive strategy when it comes to cycling, the UCI created the UCI Bike Cities and Regions label. This network now comprises 22 cities and regions in 14 countries across four continents. All have received the label by hosting major UCI cycling events and investing in community cycling, infrastructure for bike-users as well as education and training programmes.
Valentin Hasler pointed to the city of Wollongong, host of the 2022 UCI Road World Championships in Australia in September 2022, which introduced a dedicated Legacy Plan including numerous initiatives such as:
the Ride Nation education and training programme for 10,000 children,
a Bike Friendly Business Programme encouraging the city’s businesses to cater to cyclists,
several inclusion activities and programmes to ensure cycling is available to all members of the population with disabilities
investment in cycling infrastructure, not least more than 50 km of mountain bike trails.
The Australian city’s long-term Cycling Strategy 2030 will expand Wollongong’s shared path and cycling network from 130km to some 215km, connecting residential areas to the city centre to develop a true cycling culture.
Looking ahead to this year’s UCI Cycling World Championships, the inaugural edition - which will combine 13 individual UCI World Championships in Glasgow and across Scotland from 3 to 13 August – aims “to be a catalyst to inspire real and lasting change in Scotland’s approach to cycling as a sport, a sustainable transport solution and a powerful tool against climate change and other global threats.”
The event’s Ambassador Sir Chris Hoy, multiple UCI World Champion and Olympic Champion on the track, says his biggest dream is that the upcoming event “sparks a whole new generation of people who fall in love with cycling”.
Glasgow, which will host the track, para-cycling track, BMX Racing, BMX Freestyle, indoor cycling, trials and road race finishes, aims to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030 thanks to a new Active Travel strategy and Liveable Neighbourhoods Plan. Priority when it comes to adding to existing cycle pathways and infrastructure is being placed around the event venues.
Meanwhile the Danish capital Copenhagen has hosted numerous UCI events, including the 2010 UCI Track World Championships, the 2011 UCI Road World Championships and rounds of UCI World Cups for BMX Racing, track and trials. Last year, the city hosted the Tour de France Grand Départ. Copenhagen’s commitment to Elite cycling continues in 2025 when it will welcome the UCI BMX Racing World Championships.
It is no coincidence that every day, 49% of people commuting to work or studies do so on a bike in this city where cycling is the logical choice and an integral part of every child's upbringing.
The UCI’s different Bike Cities and Regions come together each year at the UCI Mobility and Bike City Forum, which unites cycling leaders, advocates, mobility experts, National Federations, industry representatives and policy makers to exchange on the future of active moblity.
The next UCI Mobility and Bike City Forum will take place in Bruges (Belgium) on 25 and 26 October, 2023.