September 7, 2021 - (Lisbon, Portugal) From high-level plenaries to inspiring side events, from discussions on temporary cycle lanes to permanent infrastructure change, we hope you enjoyed the first day of Velo-city 2021 Lisboa! After last year’s hiatus, we are absolutely thrilled to finally welcome back all of you Velo-citizens and find out, in person, what’s really been happening in the world of cycling.
Opening Plenary: Cycle Diversity
Cycling is the best way for all of us to build back stronger, together. This was the key message of this morning’s Opening Plenary, as high-level speakers from around the world took to the stage to share their own experiences in Cycle Diversity. “The more diverse we become, the stronger we will be,” said ECF President Henk Swarttouw, as he discussed the importance of getting people of all backgrounds to cycle more.
While the past year and a half has been an eye-opener for many in realising the benefits of cycling, for several others cycling will require a complete change of mindset. But how do we achieve this change? According to today’s speakers, the answer is often a matter of perception: we must normalise cycling for all people by changing how it is perceived on a systemic level.
“I transformed the bicycle into a political tool. By doing that I brought an excluded group of people into the mainstream of politics, and today cyclists are seen as first-class citizens of the city,” said Manuel de Araújo, Mayor of Quelimane City, Mozambique.
Read the full report here.
