Knowledge Decathlon Lille discovers Urban Mobility in Utrecht 24 September 2025 Cycling News On 18 September 2025, the Dutch Cycling Embassy and ROM Utrecht Region welcomed a delegation of managers from Decathlon in Lille, France. Their visit aimed to explore Dutch urban mobility and experience the city by bike. The delegation, ROM Utrecht, and the Dutch Cycling Embassy were brought together through the support of the NBSO Lille – Hauts-de-France, represented by Joris Houtman. Guided Cycling Tour of Utrecht The day began with a lively bike tour of Utrecht, led by Melissa Bruntlett of Modacity Creative. Participants rode through the city center, visiting key bicycle parking facilities, including the large underground parking under Utrecht Central Station, and exploring a mix of new, upgraded, and recreational cycling routes. Monique Harmsen from LumiGuide joined the tour to highlight smart bicycle parking management and digital wayfinding, showing how Utrecht uses infrastructure and technology to make cycling effortless and convenient. Experiencing Utrecht’s Mobility Expertise After the tour, participants gathered at the ROM Utrecht Region office for a series of presentations that brought Utrecht’s approach to urban vitality and mobility to life. Melissa Bruntlett shared her insights on how cities can foster vibrancy through variety – of people, activities, times, and modes – and illustrated practical ways these principles have shaped Utrecht into a lively, people-centered city. Monique Harmsen expanded on this by demonstrating how smart bicycle parking and digital tools help manage the city’s vast cycling infrastructure efficiently, making everyday cycling seamless for residents and visitors alike. Finally, Adriaan van Doorn of the City of Utrecht presented the long-term vision for the city, highlighting the Utrecht Mobility Plan and the 2040 strategy, which emphasizes proximity, diversity, and density, and shared examples of cycling networks within and around the city of Utrecht. Together, these presentations offered a comprehensive view of how policy, design, and technology combine to support a thriving cycling culture. Lunch and Local Inspiration The visit concluded with a networking lunch, featuring short pitches from companies based in the Utrecht region. This provided participants with additional insights into local initiatives and innovations in mobility, complementing the lessons from the morning’s tour and presentations. Experiencing Dutch Cycling Culture The Decathlon managers left impressed by Utrecht’s cycling infrastructure and culture, taking away both inspiration and practical ideas to apply in their own contexts. Want to experience Dutch cycling culture first-hand? Contact the Dutch Cycling Embassy at info@dutchcycling.nl