Bicycle
Bicycle
ADFC "Bicycle-friendly employer" certificate
The University of Oldenburg has been awarded a silver certificate as a "bicycle-friendly employer" by the German Cyclists' Federation (ADFC). This certification emphasises the university's commitment to actively supporting its employees and promoting sustainable mobility. This makes the UOL the first university in Lower Saxony to receive this certification.
The number of cycling-related events and the resulting networking opportunities for cyclists as well as the communication strategy were praised.
What is the "Bicycle-friendly employer" certificate?
The "Bicycle-friendly employer" certificate is an EU-wide seal awarded in Germany by the ADFC. It recognises companies and institutions that sustainably promote bicycle mobility in order to encourage more employees to cycle. On the way to certification, "bicycle-friendly employers" are advised by the ADFC and receive feedback on the current situation as well as advice on possible improvements. The certification is therefore also an incentive to improve the cycling infrastructure and service. The certification gives additional urgency to measures such as increasing the number of bicycle parking spaces with roofing, expanding repair services for employees, company bicycle leasing and offering showers and drying rooms.
What are the advantages for companies and employees?
Sustainability: Measures to promote cycling are a central component of modern corporate environmental management, as they help to reduce CO₂ emissions, noise and land consumption.
Health and well-being: Cycling not only keeps you physically fit, it is also good for your mental health - as studies have shown. For example, employees who regularly cycle to work have on average a third fewer sick days.
Cost efficiency: Compared to car parking spaces, bicycle parking facilities require less space and are cheaper to provide and maintain.
Fun and flexibility: Cycling is not only fun, it also allows employees to get to work quickly and flexibly. In urban environments, bicycles are often the faster and more flexible alternative, especially in rush hour traffic. This independence contributes to a better work-life balance and greater satisfaction in everyday working life.
Company bike leasing
Company bike leasing for tariff employees of the state of Lower Saxony
As part of the collective bargaining negotiations between the employers' collective bargaining association of the German federal states, the service trade union Verdi and the civil servants' association in December 2023, an agreement was also reached on company bike leasing. Under this link you can find the adopted agreement (page 7).
This means that the Federal States, as employers, will be able to offer their employees company bikes on a deferred compensation basis in future. The question of when employees of the University of Oldenburg will be able to take advantage of company bike leasing now depends on the implementation of the state of Lower Saxony.
Company bike leasing for civil servants in Lower Saxony
To enable civil servants in Lower Saxony to take advantage of bike leasing, the state government amended the Salaries Act in November 2023, thus creating the necessary basis.
Outlook and next steps
Bicycle leasing is usually organised by a service provider who takes care of the company bicycle leasing. A Europe-wide tender must be carried out to determine the service provider. Accordingly, as of 1 January 2024, there will be no state-wide bicycle leasing in the state of Lower Saxony, neither for employees covered by collective agreements nor for civil servants. The state of Lower Saxony expects that state employees will be able to make use of the service in the course of 2026.
Stadtradeln
Every year, the city of Oldenburg takes part in the nationwide "Stadtradeln" competition organised by the Climate Alliance. The University of Oldenburg has also been taking part with a team for years and tries to cycle as many kilometres as possible during a set period.
The aim is to encourage everyone to make everyday journeys climate-friendly.
Stadtradeln 2025
This year, the University of Oldenburg once again took part in „Stadtradeln” from 5 September to 25 September 2025 and took third place at municipal level. In the process, 232 active participants covered a distance of 36,712 km. This is equivalent to avoiding 6,021 kg ofCO2. As part of the city cycling programme, bicycle coding was offered together with the ADFC.
Further information on the 2025 competition can be found on the campaign website ready.
Stadtradeln 2024
The university successfully took part in the „Stadtradeln” event in Oldenburg from 6 September to 26 September 2024. It took second place at municipal level. It is particularly pleasing that the university team cycled over 10,000 km more than in the previous year. A total of 306 people from the university actively cycled and covered a total distance of 51,516 km. This equates to a saving of 8,552 kg of CO₂.
Cycle routes around the campus
On the OpenStreetMap cyclosm you can see the condition of the cycling infrastructure around the campus.