Gdańsk . . . Europe’s cradle of Solidarity . . . recently hosted the 32nd edition of Velo-city’s week-long mega-conference for Active Mobility DO-ers. The opening plenary was a trifecta call-to-action . . . a “peaceful evolution” . . . as Mayor Aleksandra Dulkiewicz reminded us. Solidarity is THE engine. Active Mobility (bicycling and walking) . . . combined with multi-modal transport solutions . . . are THE platform.

What are your take-aways from the transcripts?

In your opinion: are the transcripts’ text just business-as-usual speeches . . . OR . . . in your opinion . . . are they fundamentally important milestones documenting Decency x Critical Thinking x Joy x Health x Community x Solidarity?

You be the judge:

Velo-city 2025 – Opening Session (Clean Transcript)

Location: Gdańsk, Poland
Date: 10th June 2025
Event: Opening Plenary at the Velo-city conference 2025
Title: “From Auto Empire to Just Transition”

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🗣️ Mayor of Gdańsk – Aleksandra Dulkiewicz’s address:

“Good morning, fellow citizens! I am so proud and happy that so many of you are here for the first time. I’m sure this won’t be your last time in Gdańsk or Poland, because we have so much to offer. I hope you’ll want to visit us again!

Welcome to our guests from the European Cyclists’ Federation, from cities all over the world, and from right here in Poland. We are gathered to develop not just our own cities and regions, but the whole world . . . toward a better, more bike-friendly future.

The theme of this year’s conference is “Energizing Solidarity.” From this city, and from this country, we once launched a movement that changed the world. You’ll see that history if you visit the European Solidarity Centre here in Gdańsk.

And just like that movement, we believe cycling has the power to transform lives and societies.

Let me share why we’re here, and why we worked so hard to bring Velo-city back to Poland. In 2009, we signed the Brussels Charter and pledged to promote cycling with ambitious goals. Since then:
• We’ve reduced cycling accidents by 50%.
• Built over 20,000 bike parking spaces.
• Launched Poland’s largest cycling promotion campaign: “Bike May.” It began in Gdańsk and now reaches across the country.

Today, nearly 300,000 children across Poland ride their bikes to school during the campaign.

And this isn’t just for one day: we keep it going for months! In September, October, and November, we promote EVERY day cycling to school and work.

We call it a “peaceful evolution” . . . not a revolution: step by step, we show people why biking matters.

We’ve built sections of EuroVelo 9, 10, and 13 that run through Gdańsk:
• EuroVelo 9: the Amber Route
• EuroVelo 10: the Baltic Sea Circle
• EuroVelo 13: the Iron Curtain Trail

Since signing the Brussels Charter, we’ve doubled our cycling modal share. It’s not yet 15%, but we’re on the way. We know we still have work to do . . . and we’re here to learn from you and share what we’ve done.

Have a wonderful time at Velo-city 2025! I hope to see you not just here at AmberExpo, but cycling all over the city of Gdańsk.”

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A diplomat by training and a lifelong advocate of the commons, Henk Swarttouw (as President of the European Cyclists’ Federation) leads at a time of rising climate urgency and democratic uncertainty. Renowned for his moral clarity + humor + humility, Henk incarnates a touchstone voice . . . reminding us that when national governments falter, it is cities, stakeholders and citizens who carry the torch of transformation.

🗣️Henk Swarttouw – President, European Cyclists’ Federation’s address:

Dear Mayor Aleksandra Dulkiewicz, Mr. Marshal of the Pomorskie Voivodeship, dear colleagues from the European Cyclists’ Federation, dear mobility professionals, dear guests from all over the world:

Welcome to Velo-city 2025 in Gdańsk . . . the 32nd edition of the world’s leading global cycling summit. This is where activists, professionals, policymakers, and city leaders come together to accelerate active mobility and sustainable development.

Let me first give a warm welcome to those attending Velo-city for the first time. After today, you’ll no longer be Velo-city virgins . . . and I promise, this experience will stay with you!

We have over 1,300 participants registered . . . and more are still queuing at the gates. Gdańsk has prepared something extraordinary for us.

Velo-city is always a celebration . . . because cycling is freedom, joy, and connection.

But let me also acknowledge: this is the fourth Velo-city in a row held during a time of war in Europe. And here, in Poland, we are closer to the front-line than ever before. In many parts of the world, instability is rising. National governments are turning inward and stepping back from their commitments to the green transition and active, healthy mobility.

That’s why I want to ask a question: who here represents a city, region, or local government? Please raise your hands.

You are going to be even more important than before. When national governments back away, you must step up. You are now the front-line of climate action, public health, and democratic transformation.

But we’re not only looking at cities. We need citizens. Who here is an activist, a volunteer, or a cycling advocate?

Welcome! You are essential. Because when national governments stall or retreat, citizens must take the initiative. When citizens act, governments follow . . . they must follow. So don’t wait for permission. Start in your own street, neighborhood, and community. Change begins right there.

Politicians will notice. And they love success. So be successful, be visible, and they will follow your lead.

And that brings me back to our host city: Gdańsk.

Gdańsk was the cradle of the Solidarity movement. In the 1980s, I watched . . . mesmerized . . . on a black-and-white TV as dockworkers rose up against dictatorship. What started in this city brought down the Iron Curtain and changed the world.

Solidarity was a people-powered movement for justice, dignity, and freedom. It embodied collective hope.

And cycling, too, is about freedom and solidarity. It connects us to each other, to our cities, and to our planet. Cycling can be transformative.

That’s why SOLIDARITY is the theme of Velo-city 2025.

We need to pick up where our national leaders have left off.
We must counter the back-lash against cycling and sustainability.
We must continue our gentle revolution for more and better cycling for everyone.

So please . . . a big round of applause for the activists, volunteers, and movement builders in this room.

On behalf of all of us at the European Cyclists’ Federation, I wish you a joyful, meaningful, and unforgettable Velo-city 2025.
Let’s build a better world together . . . on two wheels.

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Few have done more to re-frame what livable, equitable cities can look like than Gil Penalosa, one of the world’s most influential urbanists. His “8–80 principle” has become a global standard for human-centered design: build cities where an 8-year-old and an 80-year-old feel equally safe. If 8-year olds or 80-year olds cannot use the infrastructure because of safety concerns, then the infrastructure needs to be reworked. Former New York City Department of Transportation commissioner Janette Sadik-Khan described Penalosa as “the Pied Piper for sustainable transportation” . . . because of his success promoting bicycle culture by building extensive cycling infrastructure that supports building physically-separated cycle tracks . . . because bike lanes are not safe enough.

🗣️ Keynote Speaker Gil Penalosa’s Velo-city 2025 Gdańsk Keynote Address:

Good morning, Velo citizens!

One of the things that makes this conference so special every year is the energy, the enthusiasm, and the fun that the Velo-city participants bring. So let me hear you again—good morning, Velo citizens!

I’m thrilled to be here with you in Gdańsk, a city that knows the power of transformation—not just through cycling, but through solidarity and shared values. I’m passionate about creating cities for everyone. Over the years, I’ve worked in over 350 cities around the world, always promoting walking, cycling, and public parks as essential ingredients for health, equity, and quality of life.

Let me tell you why I care about this.

When I was a kid, I loved my bike. It gave me freedom. Later in life, I worked in Bogotá, Colombia, where we transformed Ciclovía—from a small, occasional event to something that now brings over a million people into the streets every Sunday, every week of the year. We opened 121 kilometers of city roads for walking, biking, running—joyful, safe, inclusive mobility. It wasn’t just about cycling; it was about public life.

But it didn’t start with a huge budget or a master plan. It started with a simple idea: we deserve to use our public spaces differently. Streets are not just for cars—they’re for people.

Bogotá is not a rich city. It’s full of inequality, has bad air, chaotic traffic, and very little infrastructure. Yet we made it happen. We built bike lanes. We created parks in poor neighborhoods. We built sidewalks and bridges. We legalized over 400 informal neighborhoods to provide water, sanitation, and dignity.

We proved something: this work is not about money. It’s about political will, about doing what’s right, and about believing people deserve better cities.

Look at Paris. In 2007, they launched Vélib’, a massive bike-share system. People laughed. Now, over 1,400 stations and thousands of bikes later, Paris is leading the way. They have school streets, air quality has improved, and children are biking safely every day. Why? Because the mayor believed in a city for people—not just cars.

And if it can happen in Paris, it can happen anywhere. The Netherlands, Denmark, and now even cities like Seville and Bogotá—are showing us that change is possible.

What’s the secret?

It’s not just about painting bike lanes. Paint is not protection. We need safe infrastructure—for all ages and abilities. We need networks. One disconnected bike lane does nothing. But a connected, city-wide system? That transforms lives.

And we need to bring everyone along.

This is not a war between bikes and cars. That approach fails. It polarizes. Instead, we need to focus on what everyone wants: cleaner air, safer streets, healthier kids, more vibrant neighborhoods.

Think about your grandparents. Think about an 8-year-old child you love. Would you let them bike alone across an intersection in your city? If the answer is no, we have work to do. Cities should be safe for the 8-year-old and the 80-year-old. That’s the 8–80 principle.

Biking is not just about transport. It’s about equity, joy, climate, economy, and health. People say it’s a “nice to have,” but it’s not. It’s a right—the right to a safe route to school, the right to clean air, the right to mobility regardless of age, income, or ability.

So let’s stop waiting for permission. Citizens—don’t wait for your government. Take the first step in your neighborhood. Start a school street. Organize a bike ride. Paint a crosswalk. Once people see what’s possible, they’ll demand more.

And to those in government—cities, regions, national ministries—you have the power to lead. Create 30 km/h zones. Build minimum grids. Connect your networks. Listen to children. Listen to older adults. Engage with artists, teachers, and health professionals. Build broad coalitions. Frame cycling not as a fringe issue, but as central to your city’s success.

This is not about left or right politics. It’s about the kind of life we want.

Let’s be honest: we’ve been planning cities for the last 75 years as if everyone was a 30-year-old man driving a car. We need to stop that. We need to build cities for real people—of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.

And yes, we need to be bold. Because doing more of the same will not get us different results. And if not now—when?

Let’s go from hopeless to hopeful. Let’s make our cities places where people of all ages can bike, walk, and thrive.

Because if it can happen in Bogotá, Paris, or Seville—it can happen anywhere. Including your city.

Let’s take action. Let’s create a future where everyone, everywhere, can move freely, safely, and joyfully.

Thank you!

#StandingOVATION

What are your questions? Here are a few of my questions . . . connected to each United Nations SDG:

1. No Poverty = How can affordable cycling, walking, and transit-networks improve access to jobs, schools, and healthcare . . . especially across areas of Luxembourg’s urban + suburban + rural and border areas? What would a “just transition” look like for people whose car-dependency deepens inequality?
2. Zero Hunger = How can we connect local farms to neighborhoods + schools by Active Mobility+? How could Luxembourg support a national Vëlo4Food” campaign make fresh, local food more accessible in both food deserts and villages far from markets?
3. Good Health and Well-being = What if every school-child in Luxembourg could safely bike or walk to school . . . whether in Tuntange, Wiltz, Esch-sur-Alzette, Ettelbruck, Echternach, Luxembourg Ville and _ _ _ _ _ _? How can we re-frame Active Mobility as Public Health to successfully reduce loneliness, chronic illness, and mental stress in each AND every commune and border area?
4. Quality Education = How can Luxembourg’s schools become fulcrums for climate-smart mobility . . . through Vëlo-bus networks + outdoor classrooms + SDG-aligned learning-by-doing? What if Luxembourg’s technical high schools and university helped design and incarnate infrastructure projects in their own neighborhoods?
5. Gender Equality = What barriers . . . what obstacles . . . what hurdles do women, girls, and care-givers face in Luxembourg: on dark paths, fragmented bus lines, or around car-dominated school zones? How can urban planning and village renewal projects embed gender safety audits in everything from bus stops to bike lanes?
6. Clean Water and Sanitation = How can we redesign shared spaces . . . from school courtyards to public plazas . . . to manage runoff and protect rivers, streams, wells and lakes? What if every new infrastructure project had to show how it preserves clean water for both humans and ecosystems?
7. Affordable and Clean Energy = Could Luxembourg’s bike buses, school rides, and shared (cargo) ebikes run on solar-powered and green hydrogen-charging stations . . . even in frontier towns and farms? What would it take to ensure that every commune and border area . . . no matter how small or large . . . benefits from renewable energy investments?
8. Decent Work and Economic Growth = What green jobs could emerge in manufacturing, commerce, community mobility hubs, or school route planning . . . especially for youth and workers seeking purposeful employment? Could Luxembourg become a leader in mobility-linked cooperatives and circular economy startups?
9. Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure = How can we design mobility infrastructure that centers not only on Kirchberg . . . but also the Gare, Kehlen, Clervaux, and Kayl? Could Luxembourg’s frontier crossings role-model smart, human-centered innovation by connecting bike lanes, transit, and border economies?
10. Reduced Inequalities = Which neighborhoods or regions in Luxembourg still lack safe routes to school, accessible bus stops, and public space for play? What can we do to close those gaps . . . with dignity, urgency, and the creativity of youth voices?
11. Sustainable Cities and Communities = What if every district of Luxembourg City . . . from Beggen-Dommeldange in the north to Gasperich in the south . . . from Merl in the west to Hamm in the East . . . had a joyful, 8-to-80 mobility network where ALL ages and ALL abilities felt safe and welcoming? Could villages across the country be reimagined as car-light zones of local culture, commerce, and climate action?
12. Responsible Consumption and Production How can we turn old bikes, bus shelters, and community-spaces . . . into hubs for schools, artists, and social enterprises . . . for storytelling, inter-generational solidarity, and skill-sharing across the country?
13. Climate Action = What Climate-Action can young people take this week . . . on foot, on wheels, especially with their creativity . . . without waiting for top-down permission? How do we push Luxembourg beyond pilot-projects and into bold, climate-resilient investments in every municipality?
14. Life Below Water = How do our transport choices affect the Alzette, Sûre, Moselle, Rhine & _ _ _ _ rivers . . . especially after storms, droughts, or construction booms? Can we make urban + suburban + rural runoff a visible, shared concern . . .from Dudelange to Troisvierges . . . from Boulaide to Rosport-Mompach?
15. Life on Land = What would a “Pollinator Highway” across Luxembourg look like . . . linking farms, forests, schoolyards, tramlines, streets, highways, bridges and _ _ _ _ _? How do we make space for nature in every development . . . so that humans and wildlife can thrive side by side?
16. Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions = What if youth assemblies + local councils + municipal leaders co-designed streets, parks, and school zones together . . . with real budgets and accountability? How do we rebuild trust in public institutions by making decisions feel transparent, accessible, and guided by shared values?
17. Partnerships for the Goals = How can rural + suburban + urban communities + bike advocates + bus & train operators + farmers & coders work side by side to build a livable future? What new partnerships could emerge if we started every project by asking: Who’s not yet at the table, and why?

Further Reading:

• Wikipedia-entry for the Velo-city Conference https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Velo-city
• Wikipedia-entry for Mayor Aleksandra Dulkiewicz https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleksandra_Dulkiewicz
• Wikipedia-entry for the European Cyclists’ Federation https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_Cyclists%27_Federation
• Wikipedia-entry for Gil Penalosa https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gil_Penalosa