Velo-city is a series of conferences organised under the auspices of the European Cyclists' Federation. Bids from several cities are considered for each conference which take place every other year. Edinburgh/Glasgow won the contest to host the event in 2001 after stiff competition from Dublin (Ireland), Gothenburgh (Sweden) and, Strasbourg (France). The Scottish conference will be run by a consortium of organisations comprising: City of Edinburgh Council, Glasgow City Council, The Scottish Executive, Go Bike! , SPOKES , Scottish Cycling Development Project, Cyclists' Touring Club, Sustrans and The European Cyclists' Federation.
Erl Wilkie is the director of the conference. Partners
Cycling in Edinburgh and Glasgow Both Edinburgh and Glasgow have adopted radical cycling agendas, including the creation of dedicated cycle lanes on the road network as well as measures to improve public transport, reduce car use and calm transport. With bike ownership on the rise, both cities are enjoying significant increases in cycling. Edinburgh, for example, has experiened a doubling of cycle journeys to work since 1991. Both cities are committed to increasing their cycle network. In Glasgow, work is already underway to create 100km of cycling route by 2001 and 375km by 2008. In Edinburgh, there are already 65 km of off-road and 60km of on-road (of which 40km are bus lanes) cycling route. Edinburgh's target is a cycle network of 400km. Edinburgh intends to increase the percentage of journeys undertaken by bike to four per cent in the year 2000 and 10 per cent in 2010. In Glasgow, where cycle use has been among the lowest of UK cities, the target is to increase the percentage of journeys undertaken by bike to three per cent by the end of 2001. Scotland-wide initiatives Scotland is to be soon part of two major cycling initiatives. The National Cycle Network, being developed by cycle development charity, Sustrans, which will give the UK 5,000 miles of cycle network by June 2000, passing through and linking both Glasgow and Edinburgh. The North Sea Cycle Route,, a tourist cycle route around the circumference of the North Sea, which will link Scotland with Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands and England - just one aspect of an EC-funded network of cycle routes across Europe, called Eurovelo, which is part-funded by the City of Glasgow Council. |
Velo-city 2001 Conference Organisers
0141 434 1500 Fax 434 1519
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