German transport ministry to fund cycling professorships
Clean Energy Wire
The German transport ministry (BMVI) will fund professorships in bicycle transport at seven universities in order to make this form of transport more attractive. "Cycling is going to be a university subject," said transport minister Andreas Scheuer. "The aim is to train specialists, who will then contribute their know-how locally and implement it in the municipalities and cities," he added. The funding programme will be part of Germany's national cycling plan 2020.
More than 80 percent of Germans use bicycles to get to school or work, or in their spare time. In 2019, Scheuer proposed the introduction of fast bicycle lanes and zones where cars will not be allowed to overtake bicycles as part of a bid to make Germany's roads "safer, more climate-friendly and fairer". Germany aims to cut transport emissions 40 percent by 2030 compared to 1990 levels, but is yet to make any progress towards this target.
