Cycling Event in Luxembourg Promotes Active Mobility

On Friday, 29 November, the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Luxembourg, in collaboration with the Dutch Cycling Embassy, hosted a successful afternoon event aimed at inspiring and exchanging best practices to promote cycling in Luxembourg.

The event was well-attended by key stakeholders, including Minister of Mobility and Public Works Yuriko Backes, Ambassador of the Netherlands Carin Lobbezoo and Deputy Ambassador Liz ter Kuile, representatives of the Luxembourg Ministry of Mobility and Public Works, of the City of Luxembourg, the Fund for the Urbanization and Development of the Kirchberg Plateau (FUAK), various public transport companies including the CFL, as well as private mobility consultants and cycling activists from ProVelo.

Technical Bike Ride Enhances Understanding of Infrastructure Needs

The event kicked off at 11:45 at the Embassy of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Luxembourg with a sandwich and introduction to the day’s programme. At 12:15, participants embarked on a technical bike ride through Luxembourg City and Kirchberg. On two wheels, they explored successful cycling projects as well as challenging infrastructure points where the cycling experience and safety could be improved. This practical excursion provided valuable insights into the existing barriers to cycling and highlighted potential areas for improvement, while generating first valuable discussions among participants.

Ministerial Participation Underscores Commitment

The group of participants picked up Luxembourg’s Minister Backes, by bike of course, at her ministry. Her participation underscored the government’s commitment to promoting cycling as a viable mode of transport and was a significant highlight of the programme, showcasing strong governmental support for active mobility initiatives.

Engaging Presentations and Workshops Provide In-Depth Insights

Upon arrival at the Netherlands’ Ambassador’s Residence, attendees were welcomed with a brief introduction and kickoff by the Dutch Cycling Embassy’s Emma Stubbe. This was followed by the screening of a short film on the cycling city of Utrecht that highlighted how embracing cycling can greatly enhance health, liveability, child-friendliness, environmental sustainability, equality of opportunity, accessibility, and economic and community well-being. The message was clear: Luxembourg has vast potential to reap these benefits by fostering a more bicycle-inclusive urban environment.

Then, Minister Backes and Ambassador Lobbezoo held welcome speeches to kick-off the core programme. Stein van Oosteren followed with an inspiring keynote speech titled “Pourquoi pas le vélo?”

After a coffee and networking moment, allowing participants to discuss and exchange their first impressions, the workshop began.

To open the workshop, DCE network experts Sjors van Duren of Royal HaskoningDHV and Younes Foukalne of Studio Bereikbaar delivered presentations on Dutch cycling planning approaches (including their use in international projects) and the potential of the bike-public transport combination.

The technical workshop divided participants into three groups, led by experts Sjors van Duren and Younes Foukalne, Stein van Oosteren, Lucas Harms of the Dutch Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management and Emma Stubbe of the DCE.

Building up their knowledge and skills in a series of exercises, the groups tackled real and current case studies: improving an intersection in Kirchberg, leveraging the bike-train combination in the country of Luxembourg, and building a better cycling network in Esch-sur-Alzette. This hands-on workshop fostered collaborative problem-solving and provided practical preliminary solutions to enhance Luxembourg’s cycling infrastructure based on Dutch cycling planning principles.

Networking Reception Fosters Collaboration

The event concluded with a networking reception, providing attendees with the opportunity to discuss insights and forge valuable connections. This final segment of the event reinforced the collaborative spirit of the event and the Dutch approach to cycling planning, and underlined the day’s commitment to improving active mobility in Luxembourg.

Overall, the event marked a significant step towards promoting active mobility and enhancing cycling infrastructure in Luxembourg, reflecting the collaborative efforts of international and local expertise and the importance of cycling diplomacy.