KNOXVILLE, TN (WOKI / WVLT) – Knoxville is serving as a global gathering place for transportation experts this week as the city hosts the 14th International Cycling Safety Conference, bringing together engineers, researchers, planners and cycling advocates from around the world.
The conference, which rotates among host cities internationally, is traditionally held in major European cycling destinations such as Oslo, Norway, and Rotterdam, Netherlands. Organizers said this year’s event marks only the second time the conference has been held in the United States, following a previous gathering in Davis, California.
This year’s theme focuses on how recreational cycling can drive investment in safer infrastructure that benefits everyday commuters and residents.
Conference organizer Aaron Fellhoelter said Knoxville was chosen because it represents the challenges and successes many mid-sized American cities face as they work to improve cycling safety.
“Not every city can be Amsterdam,” Fellhoelter said. “We’re really proud to showcase a lot of what Knoxville has to show, both the good and the bad. I think we’re representative of a lot of the U.S., where we’re making great strides toward greater cycling safety, but still have work to do.”
Fellhoelter said Knoxville’s cycling story is rooted in community involvement and grassroots advocacy. He pointed to efforts by local residents and the Appalachian Mountain Bike Club that helped stop highway development through the James White Parkway corridor, preserving land that eventually became part of Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness.
Today, the Urban Wilderness features more than 50 miles of trails and serves as a major outdoor recreation destination.
As the trail system expanded, city leaders invested in infrastructure connecting recreational areas to downtown and surrounding neighborhoods. Those improvements include greenways and the repurposed Gay Street Bridge, which is now dedicated to pedestrians and cyclists.
“Knoxville is a really interesting place when it comes to cycling, cycling safety and cycling infrastructure,” Fellhoelter said. “And we’re just proud to have people from all over the world here.”
The conference blends academic research with real-world experiences from transportation professionals and community advocates. Participants include local planners, cycling organizations such as Two Bikes, and regional leaders including Knoxville Urban Wilderness Coordinator Wes Sowder, Sean Green of the Atlanta BeltLine and Jessica Parsons of Arkansas Moves.
Some attendees traveled great distances to participate. Organizers said one researcher flew from Berlin and then bicycled from New Jersey to Knoxville to attend the conference.
Visitors also experienced Knoxville’s cycling network firsthand through a group ride that traveled through downtown and across the Gay Street Bridge into South Knoxville.
Fellhoelter said one of the most important lessons Knoxville offers is how recreational cycling investments can create broader transportation benefits for entire communities.
“The lesson that you can take from Knoxville is just the power that recreational cycling has had for the city,” he said. “It can filter throughout the entire system and create cycling infrastructure so that it not only works for the mountain bikers heading out to the Urban Wilderness, but also for people who maybe can’t afford a car and are using that to get to work.”
Organizers hope attendees leave Knoxville with new ideas on how to create safer streets and more connected communities through cycling infrastructure.
