International line-up of speakers unveiled for ICBF 2024
The International Cargo Bike Festival (ICBF) 2024 has unveiled an exciting lineup of international speakers and panels, promising to ignite discussions on the future of urban mobility and sustainable transportation. Held in Utrecht from October 25-26th, the event will gather cargo bike dealers, industry leaders, policymakers, and innovators to explore the ever-expanding role of cargo bikes in logistics, urban environments and in people’s lives.
Moderators Ana Castan and Margot Daris will guide the audience through the programme at the podium on the expo floor of the ICBF. Can’t make it to the ICBF? All sessions will be filmed by Broadcast Bike and shared on the ICBF’s YouTube channel following the event (watch sessions from ICBF 2023 here).
Day 1 highlights – Friday 25th October
Karen Vancluysen of POLIS Network kicks things off with a keynote discussing the evolution of urban mobility networks. As ever at the ICBF, special attention is given to the topic of diversity in the cargo bike industry. A panel, including Nüwiel Founder and CEO Natalia Tomiyama, Mobycon‘s Angela van der Kloof and others, will be devoted listening to and sharing experiences of under-represented groups in the cargo bike industry, and will also dive into how their important contributions can be facilitated and obstacles to participation removed.
Additionally, there will also be two separate panels exploring the role of cargo bikes in inner-cities; especially in zero-emission zones. These hot topics for both entrepreneurs and policymakers will be discussed by speakers from the City of Utrecht, Netherlands Enterprise Agency (RVO) and ARUP, among others. Meanwhile, Dr Tom Assman of Otto-von-Guericke University Magdeburg will present his research on autonomous cargo bikes.
Day 2 highlights – Saturday 25th October
Day 2 starts with a Cycling Industries Europe-led panel examining and reflecting upon the results of the European Survey on Cycle Logistics Operators; featuring representatives from the French, Belgian and German national cycle logistics federations.
An afternoon session will welcome speakers from Mali, Nigeria and South Africa to take a look at developments in the African cargo bike and cycle logistics space, while community organiser Cathy Tuttle will offer insights into Portland’s ‘Weird, Wild and Wonderful’ cargo bike culture.
Side events
Alongside the main speaking programme and cargo bike expo, there will also a number of side-events taking place in at ICBF 2024 – for both professionals and cargo bike enthusiasts of all stripes.
On Thursday 24th October – the day before the ICBF – logistics professionals are invited to gather at Fulpra‘s nearby factory to discuss how to tackle some of the challenges in last-mile urban logistics. ICBF Director Jos Sluijsmans will be joined by Fulpra Co-founder and Commercial Director Michel Eijnatten and Founder of Bikeshift Lodewijk van Nooten.
14:30, Thu 24 Oct; RSVP to take part (free of charge).
At a LEVA-EU hosted parallel session on Friday 25th October, participants will be guided through the intricacies of LEV standardisation, including how standards are developed, approved, and connected to legislation, as well as how companies can get involved in the process.
12:00, Fri 25 Oct; register here (free of charge).
On both Friday and Saturday, ICBF visitors can get to know Utrecht by bike while trying out some of the best bites on offer in the host city. Let Vegan Food Tour guide you on possibly the most fun, delicious and sustainable bike tour in the Netherlands.
12:30 on Fri 25 and Sat 26 Oct. Cost €55 (promotional price) and spaces are limited – book here!
And it wouldn’t be an ICBF without a mass-ride. On Sunday 27th October – the day after the ICBF – Sunday October 27 – we’re invited to join the Dutch Recumbent Cycling Association NVHPV for their 40th anniversary ride. Taking in sights across a 20km route around Utrecht, the tour is open to bikes of all shapes and sizes.
13:00, Sun 27 Oct. Starts at SV Kampong; no need to register for the ride.
An optional programme of NVHPV lectures takes place afterwards at SV Kampong; register here for that before 20th October.
More information…
Check out the full programme of ICBF 2024, with full details of speakers, times and places, on the ICBF website.
Visitor entrance to ICBF 2024 is free. Grab your tickets here.
Got questions? Contact us!