Bicycle project at FU Berlin: Environmentally friendly transport for everyone!

Bicycle project at FU Berlin: Environmentally friendly transport for everyone!

The “FUturRad” funding project at the Free University of Berlin aims to strengthen sustainable bicycle mobility. This project began on March 1, 2025 with the procurement of the “eCarla Cargo” bicycle trailer, which has been in operation on the Düppel campus since the beginning of the month. This trailer complements an existing cargo bike and facilitates transport in the field of veterinary medicine, where there is an urgent need for environmentally friendly transport solutions. The campus extends over 15 hectares and includes more than 30 buildings, although some direct road connections are missing. The project is scheduled to last three years and is funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection as part of the “Climate Protection through Cycling” program to reduce CO₂ emissions by reducing truck use.

The main goal of the project is to promote the avoidance of car transport and to significantly reduce CO₂ emissions. Purchasing the cargo trailer also strengthens the independence of younger employees, especially trainees, who often do not have a driving license. The project also contributes to an ecological rethink among the university's employees.

Funding opportunities and application process

As part of the “Climate Protection through Cycling” program, the application process for funding cycling projects is structured in two stages. First, project outlines must be submitted within set periods: from March 1st to April 30th and from September 1st to October 31st. The formal submission takes place electronically via the “easy-Online” platform. The signed paper version must then be sent by post to Zukunft-Umwelt-Gesellschaft (ZUG) gGmbH, which is located in Berlin. After the formal examination, the content is assessed by ZUG and the BMWK, based on the criteria specified in the funding call.

The funded projects must then be invited to submit an application, with project-specific information provided on how to prepare the application. In addition to the electronic signature, alternative procedures such as the TAN procedure or postal submission can also be used. The submitted applications are finally checked by the BMWK for eligibility.

The context of sustainable mobility

The transport sector plays a central role in Germany’s climate goals. In 2019, the sector's CO₂ emissions were 165 million tonnes, a value close to 1990 levels. Despite the pandemic-related reduction in emissions to 145 million tons in 2020, the values ​​rose again in 2022. To achieve the climate goals by 2030, drastic savings are necessary, requiring emissions to be almost halved within a decade. The majority of emissions, namely 96%, come from road traffic, with almost 61% coming from cars and almost 36% from trucks.

With regard to sustainable mobility, strategies for transport transition such as traffic avoidance, modal shift and increasing efficiency require close cooperation and coordination at the political level. Particularly noteworthy here is the promotion of cycling, which, however, often contradicts existing laws. While the Federal Transport Infrastructure Plan provides 133 billion euros for road construction, only 112 billion euros are planned for rail expansion.

The Free University of Berlin's approach to specifically promoting bicycle mobility through projects such as “FUturRad” represents an important step in this direction. It not only contributes to reducing CO₂ emissions, but also supports the transformation towards more environmentally friendly and sustainable mobility in society.