Traditionally organised on the eve of Velo-city conferences, the Cities & Regions for Cyclists (CRC) Network Day is the annual in-person opportunity for more than 60 members from across 25 countries to come together, discuss, and kick-off conference week together. This year’s edition will take place on Monday 9 June and is co-organised with CRC Network Member, and Velo-city host, City of Gdansk and kindly sponsored by the Dutch Cycling Embassy. We talked with Skadi Tirpak, Director of the Dutch Cycling Embassy about their work to create better cities and regions worldwide through cycling.
The concept of a cycling embassy, though widely recognized in our cycling community, may be unknown to greater audiences. Would you explain what the Dutch Cycling Embassy is and describe your core mission?
The Dutch Cycling Embassy (DCE) engages with cities worldwide to help them become more cycle-friendly by sharing knowledge, experience, and expertise with national, regional, and local governments through its public-private network of experts. This network represents the best of Dutch cycling: knowledge, experience, and expertise offered by private companies, NGOs, research institutions, and national and local governments. We facilitate various ways of exchanging knowledge between the Dutch experts and international partners, including tailor-made study tours and workshops.
What is the Dutch Cycling Embassy’s vision for the future of cities and regions, and what role does cycling play?
The DCE envisions creating more liveable and happy cities and regions for all. The goal is not cycling for its own sake but using cycling to achieve broader objectives, such as enhancing sociability, community cohesion, prosperity, and the quality of public spaces. Effective spatial and transport planning, with cycling as the starting point, contributes to creating built environments filled with teraces, patios, playgrounds, trees, plants, and flowers that are accessible and enjoyable for everyone, whether they cycle or not.
What opportunities does the Cities and Regions for Cyclists (CRC) Network present to Dutch Cycling Embassy?
The CRC Network brings together local and regional administrations that are actively committed to improving cycling infrastructure, policy, and culture in their own contexts. It provides opportunities for DCE to expand its outreach, collaborate directly with new partners, share our expertise, and foster knowledge exchange on best practices.
How do you leverage your expertise to help cities and regions become more cycle-friendly?
The DCE helps cities and regions become more cycle-friendly by providing tailored information based on their current needs and opportunities for improvement. We work with national, regional, or local governments that seek expertise to address existing knowledge gaps related to cycling infrastructure and policy. Activities include study visits to the Netherlands, ThinkBike Workshops abroad, virtual exchanges, and practical case studies involving Dutch expertise and experience from our public-private network.
How can other cities and regions benefit by adopting elements of the Dutch approach to cycling?
Cities and regions can benefit from the Dutch approach by adopting practical and wholistic solutions related to cycling infrastructure design, policies, and technology. Effective planning centred on cycling can reduce healthcare and maintenance costs, traffic collisions and congestion, air and noise pollution, and create a more welcoming and inclusive urban environment; one that benefits car drivers as much as cyclists.
What recent initiatives and developments are focused on ensuring cycling remains at the forefront in the Netherlands?
The Netherlands is constantly working to keep cycling at the forefront through initiatives like ‘Dat is zo gefietst’ and ‘Doortrappen.’ ‘Dat is zo gefietst’ is a national campaign that encourages more people to choose the bike for short trips, highlighting how easy, quick, and healthy it is. Meanwhile, ‘Doortrappen’ focuses on helping older adults keep cycling safely and confidently, with practical advice and training. These efforts ensure cycling remains accessible, safe, and appealing for everyone, keeping it a key part of daily life.
Finally, could you highlight some recent achievements and impactful initiatives led by the Dutch Cycling Embassy?
Our 2024 annual report highlights our work in dozens of countries around the world last year. This includes trade missions to Switzerland and Ireland, workshops in Thailand, Brazil, and the USA, and study visits from France, Germany, and Japan. Specific to Poland, in April the DCE provided a keynote and workshop at the fourth annual Polish Bicycle Summit in Warsaw. And this past September, we participated in the New Mobility Congress in Łódź, followed by a one-day “bicycle diplomacy” program organized by the Municipality of Kraków. Looking ahead, we are currently planning a workshop for the autumn of 2025 with the Gdansk Metropolitan Region, focused on how Dutch-style bike-train intermodality can be applied to their new regional railway line.
ECF’s Cities & Regions for Cyclists (CRC) Network is a network bringing together local and regional administrations, actively working to promote the bicycle as a mode of transport and leisure. Our members collectively represent more than 55 million citizens, across more than 25 countries.
For more information on how to join, and attend CRC Network Day 2025, contact Froso Christofides, ECF Director Members & Networks, at [email protected]. For more information on the Dutch Cycling Embassy, please visit: https://dutchcycling.nl/
The concept of a cycling embassy, though widely recognized in our cycling community, may be unknown to greater audiences. Would you explain what the Dutch Cycling Embassy is and describe your core mission?
The Dutch Cycling Embassy (DCE) engages with cities worldwide to help them become more cycle-friendly by sharing knowledge, experience, and expertise with national, regional, and local governments through its public-private network of experts. This network represents the best of Dutch cycling: knowledge, experience, and expertise offered by private companies, NGOs, research institutions, and national and local governments. We facilitate various ways of exchanging knowledge between the Dutch experts and international partners, including tailor-made study tours and workshops.
What is the Dutch Cycling Embassy’s vision for the future of cities and regions, and what role does cycling play?
The DCE envisions creating more liveable and happy cities and regions for all. The goal is not cycling for its own sake but using cycling to achieve broader objectives, such as enhancing sociability, community cohesion, prosperity, and the quality of public spaces. Effective spatial and transport planning, with cycling as the starting point, contributes to creating built environments filled with teraces, patios, playgrounds, trees, plants, and flowers that are accessible and enjoyable for everyone, whether they cycle or not.
What opportunities does the Cities and Regions for Cyclists (CRC) Network present to Dutch Cycling Embassy?
The CRC Network brings together local and regional administrations that are actively committed to improving cycling infrastructure, policy, and culture in their own contexts. It provides opportunities for DCE to expand its outreach, collaborate directly with new partners, share our expertise, and foster knowledge exchange on best practices.
How do you leverage your expertise to help cities and regions become more cycle-friendly?
The DCE helps cities and regions become more cycle-friendly by providing tailored information based on their current needs and opportunities for improvement. We work with national, regional, or local governments that seek expertise to address existing knowledge gaps related to cycling infrastructure and policy. Activities include study visits to the Netherlands, ThinkBike Workshops abroad, virtual exchanges, and practical case studies involving Dutch expertise and experience from our public-private network.
How can other cities and regions benefit by adopting elements of the Dutch approach to cycling?
Cities and regions can benefit from the Dutch approach by adopting practical and wholistic solutions related to cycling infrastructure design, policies, and technology. Effective planning centred on cycling can reduce healthcare and maintenance costs, traffic collisions and congestion, air and noise pollution, and create a more welcoming and inclusive urban environment; one that benefits car drivers as much as cyclists.
What recent initiatives and developments are focused on ensuring cycling remains at the forefront in the Netherlands?
The Netherlands is constantly working to keep cycling at the forefront through initiatives like ‘Dat is zo gefietst’ and ‘Doortrappen.’ ‘Dat is zo gefietst’ is a national campaign that encourages more people to choose the bike for short trips, highlighting how easy, quick, and healthy it is. Meanwhile, ‘Doortrappen’ focuses on helping older adults keep cycling safely and confidently, with practical advice and training. These efforts ensure cycling remains accessible, safe, and appealing for everyone, keeping it a key part of daily life.
Finally, could you highlight some recent achievements and impactful initiatives led by the Dutch Cycling Embassy?
Our 2024 annual report highlights our work in dozens of countries around the world last year. This includes trade missions to Switzerland and Ireland, workshops in Thailand, Brazil, and the USA, and study visits from France, Germany, and Japan. Specific to Poland, in April the DCE provided a keynote and workshop at the fourth annual Polish Bicycle Summit in Warsaw. And this past September, we participated in the New Mobility Congress in Łódź, followed by a one-day “bicycle diplomacy” program organized by the Municipality of Kraków. Looking ahead, we are currently planning a workshop for the autumn of 2025 with the Gdansk Metropolitan Region, focused on how Dutch-style bike-train intermodality can be applied to their new regional railway line.
ECF’s Cities & Regions for Cyclists (CRC) Network is a network bringing together local and regional administrations, actively working to promote the bicycle as a mode of transport and leisure. Our members collectively represent more than 55 million citizens, across more than 25 countries.
For more information on how to join, and attend CRC Network Day 2025, contact Froso Christofides, ECF Director Members & Networks, at [email protected]. For more information on the Dutch Cycling Embassy, please visit: https://dutchcycling.nl/
