February 26, 2021

Almost coinciding with the meteorological start of spring and the start of the 2021 summer semester at Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences - Technology and Economics, the newly appointed BMVI Endowed Professor of Cycling Dr.'in Angela Francke invites you to an interactive city game by bicycle in downtown Karlsruhe on March 2, 2021. Participation is open to everyone, subject to the Corona Ordinance. Registration is not required.

Under the motto "On the way to the bike pro", participants can cycle through around 15 stations in Karlsruhe's city center, solving knowledge, estimation or opinion questions related to the bicycle. Each station consists of a board with a QR code that can be used to call up the respective task in the form of a video clip. After answering the question, it is resolved with the correct answer and the next station is announced. For a corona-conditioned local equalization with the participation the entrance into the game is possible at different stations: Main station (north exit), festival place (with ADFC bicycle course from 9-12 o'clock), castle (around the Carl Friedrich monument). The stations can be identified on site via clearly visible red A4 posters with the heading "On the way to the bike pro" and the QR code.

The game can be done by anyone individually during the day. The campaign is supported by numerous stakeholders in cycling, including the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure, the Ministries of Science, Research and the Arts and Transport Baden-Württemberg, Paul Lange & Co. OHG, the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Fahrradfreundlicher Kommunen in Baden-Württemberg e. V., the city of Karlsruhe, the Rhine-Neckar transport association, the Karlsruhe transport association, the TechnologieRegion Karlsruhe, the Karlsruhe district office, the Lastenkarle cargo bike loan system, the Allgemeine Deutsche Fahrrad-Club e. V. and the Verkehrsclub Deutschland.

In the morning, Prof. Dr. Angela Francke, together with colleagues, employees and students of the Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences and other people from the circle of supporters around the cycling professorship, will also drive the tour and make initial contacts with representatives from transport associations, administration and interest groups. Finally, they will meet for an online meeting with Minister of Transport Winfried Hermann.

The Endowed Chair of Cycling at Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI). Federal Minister Andreas Scheuer: "Germany is getting new cycling experts! For the first time, we are funding seven cycling endowed professorships - including one here in Karlsruhe. Those who study with Dr. Francke learn to view cycling holistically. Graduates can then apply their know-how in a targeted way in cities and municipalities to advance cycling in Germany and make it better."

"Enthusiasm for cycling has increased enormously. And the infrastructure and services for cyclists in the country are getting better and better. Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences has long been at the forefront when it comes to promoting climate-friendly and healthy mobility. I am very pleased that the university has succeeded in recruiting Dr. Angela Francke, an extremely renowned and experienced transport scientist, for the endowed professorship in cycling. This further strengthens the outstanding expertise of Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences in the field of transport ecology and sustainable mobility," said Science Minister Theresia Bauer MdL.

Transport Minister Hermann MdL: "Today's action by Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences makes the strengthening of cycling in the state visible and tangible. The new cycling professorship thus sets an example for the growing cycling culture in Baden-Württemberg. Especially in Corona times, many people have rediscovered healthy and climate-friendly cycling. As a state, we have established very good framework and funding conditions that will help to further strengthen this trend. We want to double the cycling share to 20 percent by 2030!"

"As a cycling capital, Karlsruhe already occupies  a top position throughout Germany. We not only want to defend this, but to expand it further. The endowed professorship for cycling is an important building block for this, especially since we welcome a proven expert in our city in Prof. Dr. Angela Francke. We are already looking forward to a lively exchange and new impulses," emphasizes Karlsruhe's Lord Mayor Dr. Frank Mentrup.

About the endowed professorships cycling
For the first time, the Federal Ministry of Transport and Digital Infrastructure (BMVI) is funding professorships for cycling at seven universities. The aim is to ensure that the interests of cyclists are adequately taken into account in a sustainable mobility mix - from infrastructure planning and mobility management to bicycle-friendly legislation. The universities are funded with a maximum annual amount of up to 400,000 euros per professorship. In addition to Karlsruhe University of Applied Sciences, the Bergische Universität Wuppertal, the Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences, the RheinMain University of Applied Sciences in Wiesbaden, the Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences in Salzgitter, the Technical University of Applied Sciences in Wildau and the University of Kassel received funding.