MONDAY 20 MARCH 2017 - 9:45 to 10:30

PANEL DISCUSSION Cargo bikes as a solution to congestion, pollution and noise in our inner cities

City of Vienna Vice Mayor Maria Vassilakou


Maria Vassilakou has been vice-mayor of Vienna since 2010, in charge of the department for urban development, transport, climate protection, energy planning and citizen participation. During her time in office, she has overseen the expansion of Vienna's cycle route network and the traffic calming in Mariahilferstrasse in the city centre.


Jens Holger Kirchner, Verkehrsstaatssekretär, Berlin Senat, Germany


In December 2016, Jens Holger Kirchner became the Transport Secretary of the Berlin Senate, Germany.


Richard Armitage, Director, European Cycle Logistics Federation, Manchester, UK

Richard has specialised in sustainable transport innovation for over 35 years in many settings, including low-floor buses, cleaner fuels (EV, CNG) to car sharing, personalised journey planning to residential travel plans, and now cycle logistics. Richard has successfully introduced new techniques and technologies in the transport industry. He currently contributes his transport planning and policy development skills to the CycleLogistics Ahead project, as a Director of the European Cycle Logistics Federation. Back home in Manchester, he is co-director of two new cycle-based businesses,  Last Mile Manchester (last mile delivery services on cargo bikes) and Manchester Bike Hire (high quality affordable bike hire, repairs and bike tours). Richard was chair (2011-16) of the Cycling Forum of the Chartered Institute of Logistics & Transport UK. Visit Richard's website.

Peter Harris, Director of Sustainability EMEA, UPS

Masters degree in Engineering from Cambridge University, UK

Chartered Engineer (CEng) and Member of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers (MIMechE)

2 years as a volunteer agricultural engineer with Voluntary Service Overseas in Indonesia, developing better ways of storing rice

4 years with London Transport

27 years with UPS including:

6 as UK Automotive Director

2 as UK Industrial Engineering Director

5 on assignment to Corporate Compliance developing and implementing a system to manage regulatory compliance outside the U.S.

7 (to date) as Sustainability Director for Europe

Also a non-executive director for Coperforma, a small company providing non-emergency passenger transport services to the UK’s public health service.

Married with two children and two classic cars!