University awarded cycle-friendly employer certification

The University of Oldenburg has been designated a "bicycle-friendly employer" according to EU-wide standards. It received the corresponding "Silver" certificate from Germany's General National Cyclists' Association (ADFC) at the beginning of September in recognition of its numerous activities and measures to promote cycling.

"We went through the demanding certification process because we want to assume social responsibility and boost our attractiveness as an employer. For us, cycling is closely linked with our commitment to climate protection, health and sustainability," said Jörg Stahlmann, the university's Vice President for Administration and Finance. The next goal is "Gold" seal certification, for which further measures are already in planning.

„The University of Oldenburg has implemented comprehensive measures to make cycling an attractive and safe component of the daily trip to work,” said Sara Tsudome, a project manager at ADFC. „This commitment not only has a positive impact on employees' health, but also strengthens the university's position as a progressive and environmentally conscious employer.”

Plenty of cycle paths and parking spaces

The University of Oldenburg actively supports students and employees who want to switch to sustainable mobility, as an ADFC report which forms the basis of the certification process confirms. The report certifies that campus locations can be reached quickly and safely via the local cycle path network with it many different cycle paths. No less than 55 percent of employees and 60 percent of the students already make their way to the Haarentor and Wechloy campuses by bike.

The university grounds feature a large number of bicycle parking facilities with a total of 4,330 parking spaces. Twenty-five percent of the parking facilities are already roofed, and some have lighting and have been recently modernised. A new facility with 340 parking spaces located between the Lecture Hall Centre and Building A1 opened in September 2024. There is also a permanently accessible bike repair station where staff and students can carry out repairs themselves.

Committed staff, ambitious plans

The General Students' Committee (AStA) also runs a self-service bike repair workshop for students, which is supervised by a bicycle mechanic. The report attests to a high level of commitment among employees, especially in the area of communication. Measures here include various networking opportunities such as after-work bike tours and road safety training courses. Last but not least, the university once again has its own team in Oldenburg's City Cycling ("Stadtradeln") campaign this year.

"Bicycle-friendly employer" certification is awarded by the Allgemeiner Deutscher Fahrrad-Club (ADFC) in Germany as part of an EU-wide initiative, and is valid for three years. The assessment is based on criteria such as the quantity and quality of bicycle parking facilities, changing and showering facilities, incentives for bicycle use and measures to promote cycling. Companies and institutions are awarded either Bronze, Silver or Gold certification, depending on how they perform in the assessment.

„We will continue to make the university even more bicycle-friendly in the coming years,” says Kikan Nelle, the university's Advisor for Climate Protection Management with a focus on everyday mobility. In its bid to secure the Gold seal, the university plans to set up another bicycle repair station next to the canteen on Wechloy campus, as well as further roofed parking spaces at both campuses. University employees will also be able to take advantage of a bicycle leasing scheme which the state of Lower Saxony plans to launch in 2026.