City officials triumph in Nordhorn's bicycle contest

Nordhorner Council Wins "Most Bike-Active Municipal Council" Award for the Second Consecutive Year

In a celebration of cycling and climate protection, the city of Nordhorner has once again been recognised for its commitment to promoting cycling among its residents. This year, the city won the "Most Bike-Active Municipal Council" award at the "City Cycling" event held in the old town hall of Munich, Bavaria's capital.

Mayor Thomas Berling accepted the award on behalf of the council, accompanied by Deputy Mayor Alfred Koelmann and Council Member Hartmut Balder. The award ceremony was part of this year's climate protection action "City Cycling," which aims to encourage cycling and keep the topic at the forefront of municipal planning.

The award was not based on the number of cycling kilometers, but the participation rate. In Nordhorner, 2,775 participants collected a total of 568,644 cycling kilometers, with participation and results each around 25 percent higher than the previous year. This impressive figure represents over 218 million cycling kilometers across all participating municipalities, avoiding 36,000 tons of CO2 compared to car journeys.

Out of 42 Nordhorner council members plus the mayor, 22 participated, which is more than any municipality of comparable size. This high level of participation underscores the council's commitment to leading by example in promoting cycling. Mayor Thomas Berling emphasised the importance of this approach, stating that politicians should set the tone for sustainable transportation choices.

André Muno, Managing Director of Climate Alliance Services, emphasised the need for more committed action from politics and administration for a mobility turnaround. He praised Nordhorner's efforts but stressed that bold traffic planning and action in municipalities are necessary to ensure the impact of such initiatives is not limited to a fig leaf in transport policy.

The award ceremony marked the second consecutive year that Nordhorner council members have won the "Most Bike-Active Municipal Council" award. The city's continued success in this area demonstrates its ongoing dedication to promoting cycling and reducing carbon emissions. The event took place in the presence of Dr. Thomas Gruber, Verena Dietl, and André Muno, who presented the trophies.

With over 1.1 million participants from 2,886 municipalities this year, "City Cycling" continues to grow in popularity and impact. As the city of Nordhorner continues to lead the way in promoting cycling, it serves as an inspiration for other municipalities to follow suit and make a positive impact on the environment.