BUILDING SOLIDARITY WITH BICYCLES AT VELO-CITY

BUILDING SOLIDARITY WITH BICYCLES AT VELO-CITY

Author: The War on Cars, LLC July 15, 2025 Duration: 54:10
The War on Cars
SocietySociety & CultureCommentaryCultureNews

At this year's Velo-city conference in Gdansk, the theme was "Energizing Solidarity," in honor of the city's history as the cradle of the Solidarity labor movement that helped bring down Communism in Poland. Velo-city is an incredibly good-mood event put on each year by the European Cyclists' Federation, where people come from all over the world to share best practices in urban cycling, and to connect with their fellow advocates, elected officials, and other members of the wider cycling community.  Sarah talked with advocates, government officials, and researchers how bicycles build solidarity as people around the world fight for democracy and our planet's health.

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The War on Cars is produced with the generous support of the Helen & William Mazer Foundation.

This episode was sponsored by Cleverhood and Xtracycle.

 

SHOW NOTES

Check out all the great work that the European Cyclists' Federation does. Velo-city 2026 will be in Rimini, Italy.

Thanks to Anthony Lau of Cyclehoop for the audio from the Cave Rave.

Learn more about the Shawlands Bike Bus in Glasgow.

Check out Bike Ottawa.

E-Bike City Zurich imagines a city that deprioritizes cars.

Find out about the COP Bike Ride for climate awareness.

Read about Dr. Ian Walker's motonormativity research, along with fun facts about his other life as an ultradistance athlete.

Learn more about Melissa and Chris Bruntlett.

 

 


Imagine a world not built around traffic jams and parking lots, but shaped for people. The War on Cars is a dispatch from the front lines of that effort, a collective conversation questioning the automobile’s dominance over our cities, our environment, and our daily lives. Each episode digs into the real-world fight to reclaim public space, examining everything from the politics of a new bike lane to the history of how cars came to rule. You’ll hear from urban planners, activists, historians, and ordinary people pushing back, offering a mix of sharp analysis, on-the-ground reporting, and compelling narratives. This isn’t just about transportation; it’s about the culture and societal choices that have led us here, and the tangible, often inspiring work to create safer, quieter, and more connected communities. Tune in for a thoughtful and necessary critique of the status quo, a podcast dedicated to the idea that our streets can-and should-be for so much more.
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