28.12.2021 – 06:05
Initiative RadKULTUR
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Stuttgart (ots)
The people of Baden-Württemberg made history again with CITY CYCLING: They collected almost 33 million kilometers on their bikes. More than 148,000 cyclists from 546 municipalities took part in the competition, which in Baden-Württemberg is sponsored by the RadKULTUR initiative of the Ministry of Transport. But at least as gratifying as the record numbers are the many small and large stories that CITY CYCLING 2021 produced. They are about (narrowly missed) successes, enthusiastic young cyclists and fun and exciting collaborations between municipalities.
Heilbronn district. The bike is just a means of transport? Are you kidding me? Are you serious when you say that! In the district of Heilbronn, the bikes were converted into gymnastic equipment, props and photo models as part of CITY CYCLING. The reason for this was the photo competition “CITY CYCLING through town and country”, which the city of Heilbronn and the district had launched. During the three CITY CYCLING weeks, banners were placed in the city and district, in front of which the participants photographed themselves in the most creative way possible in order to take part in the competition. On the winning pictures, people swim, do gymnastics and look through a glass ball at the bike.
Malsburg-Marzell in the district of Loerrach. Just under 1,500 people live in the small community in the Lörrach district. Nevertheless, CITY CYCLING 2021 covered a total of 1,660 kilometers in Malsburg-Marzell. The main person responsible for this proud achievement can be found in the town hall: During CITY CYCLING, Mayor Mario Thomas Singer commuted almost every day from Freiburg, about 50 kilometers away, to Malsburg-Marzell by bike. What motivates him to pedal so enthusiastically every day? “As a little boss in a small town hall, you should never be wheelless,” he explains his commitment. Incidentally, Singer was not the only elector who really worked hard. For example, more than 3,000 parliamentarians all over the country took part in CITY CYCLING.
Stockach in the district of Constance. What is the secret of success behind a successful CITY CYCLING season? Youth work played a particularly important role in the Constance district. Probably the best example of this is cycling in Stockach, where even kindergarten children took part in CITY CYCLING: The 14 “Radelzwerge Stockach” from the kindergarten in Franz-Schubert-Straße cycled a total of 144 kilometers during the campaign period. Great performance from what is probably the youngest CITY CYCLING team!
Esslingen am Neckar. The starting date for CITY CYCLING in Esslingen is easy to remember – it has been the same for 10 years: May 1st. As early as 2011, when the city on the Neckar took part in CITY CYCLING for the first time, the starting shot was fired on this date. The banner that was specially printed at the time is now used year after year – for reasons of sustainability. This fits perfectly with CITY CYCLING, which focuses on sustainability and climate protection. Then until May 1st, 2022 in Esslingen!
Öhringen in the Hohenlohe district. Sometimes you just need the right incentive, that little extra bit of motivation, so that CITY CYCLING really runs smoothly. This is also the case with Uli Reissig, who achieved the best result in town in Öhringen in the Hohenlohe district: he recorded 2,500 kilometers by bike in the CITY CYCLING period. Reissig is also otherwise an enthusiastic frequent cyclist. But to register with CITY CYCLING, he still needed a very special bait in the form of a Black Forest cake. A city cyclist friend lured him into her team with the layered pastries. What a clever move!
Igersheim in the Main-Tauber district. CITY CYCLING has its own category for particularly motivated bike fans, which is open to all participants. The CITY CYCLING stars represent their municipalities and districts and, in addition to the actual competition, face a very special challenge: They are not allowed to drive for three weeks. Not that easy at all, as Frank Menikheim, Mayor and CITY CYCLING star of Igersheim, also discovered. For 20 days he did not see the inside of a car and instead traveled by bike, bus and train. On the 21st and last day, he had to drive to the northern Black Forest for an important appointment. Sometimes there is no other way. But Frank Menikheim’s collected 1,055 kilometers and the 20 days without a car are absolutely impressive.
Freiburg in Breisgau. 6,594 active cyclists, including 25 parliamentarians and more than 1.2 million kilometers covered: These figures read like the result of a municipality that has many years of experience in CITY CYCLING. Freiburg im Breisgau took part in CITY CYCLING for the first time in 2021 as a real newcomer and delivered this strong performance from a standing start. The team from the Freiburg University Medical Center landed far ahead with almost 76,000 kilometers. The largest team was “Fridays for Future Freiburg” with 1,035 active cyclists. With these results one can only be curious how the cyclists in Freiburg will build on their strong performance from 2021 in the coming CITY CYCLING season.
Wiesloch in the Rhein-Neckar district. In addition to their motivation, enthusiastic cyclists also need good cycle paths and usually know best where the shoe pinches. According to this motto, at the same time as CITY CYCLING in Wiesloch, the population was asked about cycling in their home country. The questions revolved around topics such as the frequency with which the people of Wiesloch get into the saddle and how satisfied they are with the bicycle infrastructure in their city. The survey was carried out as part of the Wiesloch bicycle traffic concept and is intended to help improve the city’s bicycle infrastructure.
Untergruppenbach in the district of Heilbronn. There are many reasons to take part in CITY CYCLING: Cycling is fun, does you good and protects the climate. In Untergruppenbach you can also see a very tangible, positive development through CITY CYCLING. The industrial area there includes a Bosch development center with around 6,000 employees. Year after year, the location alternates between Untergruppenbach and the neighboring Abstatt. The cyclists used CITY CYCLING to point out a gap in the cycle path on the way from Untergruppenbach to their place of work. This cycle path is now to be expanded – a classic win-win situation for cyclists, the company and the two communities.
City of Baden-Baden. CITY CYCLING in Baden-Baden started on June 24th with a very special event: a handover. At the beginning of the campaign period, Lord Mayor Margret Mergen took over the “baton” – an air pump – from the municipalities of Bietigheim, Ötigheim, Kuppenheim, Malsch and Muggensturm. As partner municipalities in the ÖkoREGIO association, they had previously taken part in the bicycle competition at the same time, thereby opening the relay ride. After three successful CITY CYCLING weeks in Baden-Baden – including cycling almost 200,000 kilometers – the relay pump moved on to Rastatt.
More about the results of CITY CYCLING 2021 in Baden-Würrtemberg at www.radkultur-bw.de/presse/2021/BW-ist-RadLaend as well as under www.stadtradeln.de/ergebnisse.
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For a bike-friendly mobility culture in Baden-Württemberg
With the RadKULTUR initiative, the state is promoting modern and sustainable mobility – for the tenth year already. The goal of the Ministry of Transport: to significantly increase the proportion of cycling. In close cooperation with municipalities, employers and a growing network of partners, the initiative makes cycling accessible and tangible in everyday life. Communication measures, events and other innovative RadKULTUR formats underline the relevance of cycling: It is healthy, sustainable – and thus a contemporary form of mobility. Further information: www.radkultur-bw.de.
About the Climate Alliance and CITY CYCLING
Climate Alliance is a network of European municipalities in partnership with indigenous peoples that develops local responses to global climate change. Since 2008, CITY CYCLING has served to protect the climate and promote cycling and can be carried out by all municipalities worldwide on 21 consecutive days from May 1st to September 30th. You can find more information about CITY CYCLING at www.stadtradeln.de such as www.radkultur-bw.de/stadtradeln.
Press contact:
Ministry of Transport Baden-Württemberg:
Edgar Neumann
Head of press and public relations
Email: [email protected]
Pressetelefon: 0711 231 5841
Initiative RadKULTUR:
Linda Heggen
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 030 536077-9
Original content from: Initiative RadKULTUR, transmitted by news aktuell
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