Welcome
There is probably no other means of transport that epitomizes today's lifestyle better than the bicycle – sporty, individual, flexible, healthy and eco-conscious. The Germans own 78 million cycles. In other words, almost everyone has one. And cycle production in Germany is once again in full swing.
However, the reality on our roads shows that we can still do a lot to promote cycling. We need better cycling infrastructure. We must protect cyclists even better. In our major urban areas, in particular, we should shift significantly more logistics operations and passenger movements to cycles. And we want even more innovation and progress, for instance through bike sharing and pedelecs.
We would like to discuss all this with you, and we are therefore inviting you to the 6th National Cycling Congress, which is to be held in Dresden on 13 and 14 May 2019. Thinking ahead and evolving cycling – that is to be the focus of this meeting. There will be twelve forums, in which experts from government, public authorities, industry, academia and civil society will engage in an exchange of views on success stories so far and new objectives. The discussions will centre on issues such as cycle superhighways, bike sharing, logistics in urban areas, digitalization, road safety and optimizing the German Road Traffic Regulations to make them more cycle-friendly. In addition, we will be awarding the German Cycling Prize and staging numerous side events to make the programme even more interesting. For instance, we will be showing successful international examples of modern cycling and are planning a start-up session in which young entrepreneurs present their products. After the conclusion of the second day of the congress, the City of Dresden will be organizing guided cycling trips in the region around Dresden.
Dresden is the ideal venue for this congress. The Free State of Saxony is a place where tradition meets the future. On the one hand, the Elberadweg – Germany's most popular long-distance cycle route – never fails to impress thousands of tourists with its cultural highlights. On the other hand, academics working in Dresden – the largest site for transport science in Germany – are researching new developments in cycling.
Welcome to the congress. We would be delighted to see you there.
Andreas Scheuer
Member of the German Bundestag, Federal Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure
Michael Kretschmer
Minister-President of the Free State of Saxony
Martin Dulig
Member of the Landtag, Saxon Minister of State for Economic Affairs, Labour and Transport and Deputy Minister-President of the Free State of Saxony
Dirk Hilbert
Mayor of the Federal State Capital of Dresden
