A colourful peloton, a unique route in the city centre and live attractions – this is what the Velo-city Bicycle Parade promises to be, which will take place on the streets of Gdańsk on 11th June. This is a unique opportunity to spend time actively, admire the city from a new perspective and celebrate urban mobility with other two-wheeler enthusiasts. Participation in the event is free of charge.
On a June evening, the streets of Gdańsk will transform into a colourful cycling route – all thanks to the Velo-city cycling parade promoting the idea of urban mobility. The event, which will take place on Wednesday, June 11, is organised as part of the Velo-city conference – the largest international event dedicated to sustainable cycling – hosted this year by Gdańsk. The parade is open and free of charge.
A colourful route through the city
The participants of the Parade will cover a 12-kilometre route running through characteristic points of Gdańsk. The start is planned for 7:00 p.m. at Targ Węglowy, from where the participants will set off towards the Old Town, passing, among others, along Ogarna Street, through Wyspa Spichrzów and Piwna Street. Then the route will lead through the area around the Shipyard, Księdza Jerzego Popiełuszki Street, Aleja Zwycięstwa and Hallera Street up to the intersection with Kliniczna Street, where the route will turn around. On the way back, the parade will pass through Marynarki Polskiej and Jana z Kolna streets, then through Solidarności Square, to end at Targ Węglowy. The organizers expect the ride to take about 1–1.5 hours. Its goal is not speed, but a joint celebration of urban mobility.
The participants of the Parade will enjoy unique attractions along the route, including a circus show on unicycles, street theater with heroes from different eras, a live fire show and drummers' performances. Cyclists will also be able to admire the buildings of the Gdańsk Shakespeare Theater, the European Solidarity Center and the Museum of the Second World War from the perspective of a bike.
Targ Węglowy (Coal Market) – the heart of the event
Although the parade officially begins at 7:00 PM, Targ Węglowy will be buzzing with activities and challenges throughout the day.
For those who want to take part in the Parade but don’t have a bike, several hundred Mevo city bikes will be available on-site for free. Volunteers will assist participants with the logistics of borrowing and returning the bikes at no cost.
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Summary of the “Cycling May” campaign
- Closed event for invited schools
- Animations, attractions, performances
2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Open area for everyone
Cycling attractions:
- Free bike service (provided by KROSS and partners), test rides, and free reflectors and bike bells with installation
- Jump rope contest with prizes sponsored by Decathlon
Creative workshops:
- Sketch session – collaborative graffiti drawing with artists
- Upcycling – DIY REFLECTORS and CHARMS
Healthy lifestyle zone:
- Meeting with Ewelina Cywińska (Kross ambassador, “Cyclist’s Plate”)
- Healthy eating workshops
Additional attractions:
- Bike stunt shows
- PadBox gaming zone
- Giant games for kids and adults
6:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Official part before the Bike Parade
– Award ceremony
– Shows and artistic performances
7:00 PM
Start of the Bike Parade
8:30 PM – 10:00 PM
Afterparty
– Food trucks
– Chillout zone
8:30 PM – 9:30 PM
Concert by the band Lonely Dogs
9:30 PM – 10:00 PM
Closing DJ set
Velo-city Bike Parade
The Bike Parade is part of the Velo-city program – an international conference organized by the European Cyclists’ Federation. It is the largest and most influential event in the world dedicated to promoting sustainable transport and decarbonization. This year’s edition will take place in Poland for the first time. Experts, policymakers, and mobility enthusiasts from over 60 countries will gather in Gdańsk from June 10–13 at the AmberExpo Exhibition and Conference Centre to discuss solutions for sustainable urban mobility.