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Cottbus cycles for climate protection: 3rd place in city cycling 2025!
The BTU Cottbus–Senftenberg shone at the “City Cycling” 2025 with 32,665 km and a 3rd place for environmentally friendly mobility.
Cottbus cycles for climate protection: 3rd place in city cycling 2025!
On June 25, 2025, the Brandenburg Technical University of Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU) proudly announced its successful participation in the Germany-wide “City Cycling” competition. In this campaign, which took place from May 1st to 21st, 2025, the cyclists from Cottbus were very committed to sustainable mobility. The BTU was one of the largest teams at the event with 113 active participants.
In total, the members of the BTU team covered an impressive 32,665 kilometers. This secured them third place in the “most active cycling team” category. M. Krüger accepted the certificate on June 22, 2025 during a celebratory award ceremony as part of the Cottbus city festival. Prof. Peer Schmidt, Vice President for Studies and Teaching, acted as team captain and in his speech emphasized the importance of environmentally friendly mobility and the positive effect of exercise in everyday life. He also thanked all participants and looked ahead to the next participation next year, which will involve even more commitment.
Importance of cycling
The numbers speak for themselves: Experts estimate that up to 30% of car trips in metropolitan areas could be shifted to cycling. Such a shift could not only relieve the burden on the environment, but also benefit people in cities. Cities like Copenhagen and Amsterdam already have very high levels of cycling and show how cycling can improve the quality of life. Münster, for example, has 39% bicycle traffic compared to 29% motorized private traffic.
Another important aspect is the health component. Cycling can increase life expectancy by up to 14 months, while air pollution and traffic accidents can shorten it by up to 40 days. Over 40% of car journeys in German cities are shorter than 5 kilometers, places where the bicycle is often the fastest means of transport. In addition, the costs for using a bicycle are among the lowest in transport, at around 10 cents per kilometer, while the costs for cars are between 21 and 218 cents per kilometer.
Promoting sustainable mobility
In order to increase the proportion of bicycle traffic, various measures are necessary. This includes the expansion of a continuous cycle network with safe and comfortable cycle paths as well as the construction of modern bicycle parking facilities. Communication to promote cycling also plays a crucial role in raising awareness of environmentally friendly transport.
The BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg's commitment to “city cycling” is an example of how educational institutions can make a contribution to sustainable mobility. The campaign not only promotes the fitness of the participants, but also sets an important example for climate protection. Looking ahead is optimistic, while preparations for next year are already being planned.
The importance of cycling and sustainable mobility is also emphasized by the Federal Environment Agency, which sees progress in this area as essential for a positive environmental balance. With their participation, the BTU and its team are sending a visible signal in Cottbus that sustainable mobility and health go hand in hand.
For further information on the background to promoting cycling and its importance, visit BTU Cottbus-Senftenberg, Leinetal and Federal Environment Agency.