For the past four years, thirteen cities and six technical partners have worked together to improve conditions for cycling as an everyday mode of transport.

This work, which was done in the context of the CIVITAS Handshake project in which ICLEI Europe is a partner, began in 2018 by identifying key barriers to cycling success among cities. Overcoming these infrastructural and sociocultural barriers required not only funding, but also expertise and a willingness to commit to big goals, receive feedback, and implement changes.

The COVID-19 pandemic made in-person knowledge exchange quite challenging. However, technical partner Velo Mondial recognised this loss early on and developed 360 degree footage, which allows the viewer to virtually experience life as a cyclist in various cities. An additional highlight from the last four years of work is the Mentoring Programme, which paired Future Cycling Capitals and Cycling Capitals together in a mentor-mentee relationship.

City specific successes include ICLEI Member Helsinki (Finland)’s update to cycling paths, which were separated from bi-directional paths to one-way cycling paths; as well as in Dublin, where several busy junctions are now equipped with sensors that detect cyclists, thereby allowing the traffic system to grant their priority.

Looking ahead, with the intention of gathering the expertise and making it more widely available, Handshake is developing the International Cycling Community of Practise (ICCoP). This platform aspires to support cities in their pursuit of improving conditions for cycling by focusing on self-assessment, mentorship and knowledge-sharing. Monitor the Handshake website and channels for information on the ICCoP, as it develops.

Read about some of the project's immersive events here and here.