Bicycle Urbanism by Design

One of his primary keynotes is Bicycle Urbanism by Design which draws upon his philosophies about urbanism and his practical experience working with cities. He appeals to our rationality in saying that we should choose to design our cities and streets instead of relying solely on traffic engineering as we have done for so many decades. This is about design as a human-to-human process and how we should use design to create better urban environments. In addition, Mikael lays out out the data and the business model that makes it a must for cities to start work putting back bicycles as transport. Others may speak about the same topic - even using Mikael’s phrases and philosophies - but no one does it quite like he does.

The Life-Sized City

Mikael harvests enormous experience in shooting his documentary TV series about global urbanism The Life-Sized City. He can curate a wide range of topics about citizens and politicians all over the planet thinking differently about their cities for the first time in a century and realising that they have the power to change the urban landscape for the better. Mikael shows examples from cities as diverse as Medellin, Tokyo, Toronto, Mexico, Copenhagen, Cape Town - to name but a few - and calls the audience to action to follow the lead of urban citizens everywhere. Tactical urbanism, architecture, urban design, policy-making, citizen engagement, activism - it’s all happening. Right now. It is exciting, important and relevant for citizens and city dwellers to hear about it. Inspiration should be shared.

Urban Lessons from the Pandemic & the War in Ukraine

As we face the greatest crisis in human history - climate change - it is important to look for lessons to learn from other recent and ongoing crises. Mikael has studied how we reacted to the COVID-19 pandemic in cities as well as how Ukrainians have been tackling a brutal invasion. There are valuable lessons to learn that we can employ in our fight against climate change.

Cargo Bike Logistics

The rise of the cargo bike continues unabated. Over 70 cities in Europe now have last-mile delivery of packages from cargo bikes. From a baseline in Copenhagen, where there are 40,000 cargo bikes in daily use, Mikael explains how using the cargo bike as an integral part of logistics is both a no-brainer and a natural evolution. Cargo bikes were a normal transport form for decades in most cities in the world and now they are returning. Mikael explains the history of the cargo bike in cities and the modern benefits, such as the ease of implementation and details about how cargo bikes are the way forward for moving stuff around our cities. For families, small businesses and heavy logistics.

Tailor-Made Keynotes

Mikael has a broad repertoire of knowledge and experience and can craft a keynote to fit your needs and audience expectations. He has spoken about urbanism in winter cities, why shopkeepers and business associations should embrace bicycle infrastructure and pedestrian streets in order to make a higher profit, terror urbanism, child-friendly cities, etc.

Bikes4Ukraine

In April 2022, Mikael was contacted by urban planning colleagues in Ukraine, asking if he could source used bikes to send to Ukrainian cities. Little did he know then that the project he would start would dominate his life well into 2023. Bikes4Ukraine delivers bikes to NGOs in many Ukrainian cities and they are used to deliver food and aid to vulnerable victims of the war. Mikael talk about the trials of setting up a non-profit and the tribulations of delivering the bikes to the grateful people who receive them.

Effective Urban Leadership

Many cities are eager to change and modernise but most struggle with the paradigm shift. Through his global experience, Mikael has identified the factors that need to be in place for effective, modern leadership, whether it is politics or citizen movements.

He meets mayors and politicians wherever he goes with his work and he is equipped to analyse and philosophise about how and why a century of car-culture has stunted effective policy-making and how the Age of Urbanism is changing the rules.

Communicating Change

We have an amazing product to sell, whether it is reestablishing sustainable transport in our cities or changing opinions about urbanism. Mikael has studied communication techniques - both effective and ineffective - and speaks about how to develop effective communication tools and strategies that spur change. We need to change the conversation and employ mainstream marketing techniques in order to normalise cycling and urbanism in cities. The tired, old environmentalist angle is flawed and urban citizens are used to a more modern approach. Mikael will provide the best recipe for selling the future.

Danish Design Culture

It’s no secret that Denmark is a design nation. For decades exhibitions around the world have featured chairs, tables, lamps and other interior furniture crafted by our designers. But what many people don’t realise is how deep-rooted this design culture is. Children are introduced to Danish Design in the third grade, learning the three principles: functional, practical & elegant and creating designs based on them. Outside our carefully crafted homes, however, there is an entire urban landscape that has been designed back on the same principles. The cycle track network, parks, playgrounds, social programs, wayfinding… you name it. This keynote explains the design culture of the Danes and focuses on how we design the spaces that we all share through design thinking and design for change.