Stralsund cycles around the world: 92,545 km for climate protection!

Stralsund cycles around the world: 92,545 km for climate protection!

Cycling is not only healthy, but has also become an integral part of the Stralsund community. This year's CITY CYCLING took place from May 14th to June 3rd, 2025, and the results are more than impressive. A total of 482 active cyclists took part and together covered an impressive 92,545 kilometers. This corresponds to more than two trips around the earth and the straight line from Stralsund to the iconic Ayers Rock in Australia. “The commitment of the Stralsund people is remarkable,” said climate protection officer Heide Niemann, who coordinated CITY CYCLING 2025.

During the three weeks of the campaign, not only were many kilometers collected, but also 9,704 trips were registered. This means an average of 20 trips per active participant. In addition, over 15 tons of CO₂ were saved through active participation, which underlines the importance of this initiative for climate protection. “Cycling should be good business for everyone,” recommends the Federal Environment Agency. It recognizes the importance of shifting car traffic to cycling in cities to improve air quality and improve quality of life.

Team evaluations and individual performances

A lot of the motivation came from the competition between different teams. 50 teams took part, including companies, schools, clubs and also the city administration of the Hanseatic city of Stralsund. The most successful teams were the ADFC “Sundradler” with 12,850 km, followed by the city administration with 12,636 km and the Stralsund University with 7,423 km.

The individual cyclists were also particularly active: Reinhard Witteschuss managed an impressive 2,002 km and was therefore the most active men's cyclist, while Rabea Aschenbruck also performed strongly among the women. Another incentive to become more involved in cycling is the many health benefits that cycling offers. Especially when you consider that around 40% of car journeys in major German cities are less than five kilometers – the bicycle could be the ideal solution here.

The future cycling network

In order to further promote the use of bicycles, it is important to expand the infrastructure and strengthen the positive image of cycling. Cities like Münster and Copenhagen show how a high proportion of cycling contributes to a city worth living in. Measures such as a continuous cycle network and modern bicycle parking facilities are necessary to further support cyclists and make it easier to switch from cars to bicycles. In metropolitan areas, shifting up to 30% of car trips to cycling could make a significant contribution to reducing the burden on the environment.

For the next few months, Stralsund is looking forward to an award ceremony as part of the European Mobility Week in September 2025. The most active teams and individual cyclists will be honored here. To take part or collect your own kilometers, you can go to www.stadtradeln.de/stralsund Register and let your creativity run wild in cycling.

There are many opportunities for all cyclists to make their own contribution to improving the climate and at the same time enjoy the health benefits of cycling. So, get on your bikes and go – the people of Stralsund are on the right track!

For further information about the initiative and the competition, visit the city of Stralsund's website Stralsund or climate protection Climate protection, as well as the current status of sustainable mobility Federal Environment Agency.