The organisers of the International Cargo Bike Festival (ICBF) are looking back on a successful 2024 edition. The event, which took place for the first time in the world-renowned cycling city of Utrecht, the Netherlands on the 25^th and 26^th October, attracted a diverse range of exhibitors. Alongside the expo and test track, visitors were also treated to a jam-packed programme discussing topics relevant to cargo bikes, with panels and speakers drawn from across the globe, plus several side-events. Also striking was the number new products or even brands unveiled at the ICBF. Yet more exhibitors made their Netherlands debut at the show, with ICBF attendees the first to experience these new developments up close. With the introduction of zero-emission zones from 1 January 2025, these developments are more relevant than ever.

Networking

With free entry on offer, around eight hundred visits were made to ICBF 2024 across the two expo days. The event drew together the cargo bike industry’s top innovators, experts, and enthusiasts, as well as policymakers and both dealers and every-day users of cargo bikes. Networking was also high on the agenda, with 200 people using matchmaking tool ‘Conversation Starter’ to connect with other attendees and schedule appointments.

More quality, more impact

“For those familiar with larger shows like Eurobike and Velofollies, our visitor numbers may seem modest by comparison,” explains ICBF Co-organiser Tom Parr “but they reflect a dedicated and highly engaged audience focused specifically on cargo bikes. Our approach has always been different. What matters to us are quality and impact; not quantity. And by making sure exhibitors and visitors can interact in a relaxed environment, the result for both is a higher quality level of contact. Real conversation, real connection, building those all-important relationships. This allows exhibitors to explain their offerings and listen to visitors’ needs, while visitors feel heard and informed; making them more likely to buy the cargo bike or accessory that fits their requirements. It’s win-win, and often makes more actual impact.”

“Our communications also support this approach”, adds Parr. “By constantly engaging with our audience online, they show up to the ICBF clued-up and inspired. In other words, they already know what questions to ask. That online engagement also means that the brands we work with also get a lot of exposure to the people who can’t make it to the show.” And with exhibitors reporting several bikes sold from the expo floor at ICBF 2024, it’s a blueprint that seems to work.

Plenty of ideas for 2025

“A lot of people also mentioned the high quality of the exhibitors, attendees, speakers and panel discussions this year”, says ICBF Director Jos Sluijsmans. “When we reflect on the 2024 edition, what lingers most of all is the positive atmosphere at the event; something that we ourselves greatly value.”

Sluijsmans points to the changes made for the 2024 edition – returning to a standalone event; two expo days instead of three; free visitor entrance; and a new venue – saying that they are based on direct feedback from previous years. “Several exhibitors told us that they noticed we have really listened to them”, explained Sluijsmans. “We do our best to incorporate their opinions when we make improvements the ICBF. We don’t just organise the show for ourselves; it is for the manufacturers, speakers, visitors and ultimately to create better cities for all.”

“It’s our job now to go away, evaluate and come back even better next year. We already have lots of ideas for 2025, but more importantly, we will be asking both exhibitors and visitors to tell us what they think worked and what could be improved. In the meantime, Tom and I would like to thank the exhibitors, speakers, moderators, and behind-the-scenes contributors – they know who they are. Without them, ICBF 2024 wouldn’t have been able to happen. We’re grateful to them all.”

LEVA-EU Session on Standardisation

LEVA-EU actively participated in the ICBF with a well-attended booth and an informative session on standards for electric cargo bikes. This was the second of four standardization sessions that LEVA-EU is organizing this year in collaboration with SBS. Those who missed the previous sessions at Eurobike and ICBF can still attend on either November 28 or December 13, both at 9 AM. These sessions will last two hours and will take place online. They will cover standardization not only for electric cargo bikes but for all light electric vehicles. LEVA-EU will soon launch online registration for these two meetings, but you may want to mark these dates in your calendar already.