Mobility is an important aspect of sustainable university life. Measures such as attractive expansion of bicycle parking facilities and increased use of public transport can create alternatives to the car.
Published on 24 July 2025
It is a muggy Tuesday morning, 7:30 a.m., and the alarm clock is ringing in an apartment in Würzburg. With the temperature already at 22 degrees Celsius, warm air flows in through the open window. The first class starts at 9 a.m., so what is the best way to get to THWS? There are many options: should one hop on a bicycle and enjoy the welcome cool breeze while cycling through the city? Or should one walk, knowing that every step in the shade is precious? Should you squeeze into public transport? Of course, you could also take the car, where the air conditioning would ensure pleasant temperatures during the journey. If the choice is already a challenge on a sultry summer's day, it is likely to be even more difficult on cold and wet winter days, when over 9,000 students and around 800 employees of the THWS have to weigh up warmth and sustainability.
Sustainability in transition
Sustainable thinking and action are becoming increasingly important in our society. Many consumer decisions are made based on whether they are sustainable. At the same time, the government is trying to get climate change under control with various approaches. Sustainability also plays an important role at the Technical University of Applied Sciences Würzburg-Schweinfurt (THWS). An important aspect of sustainable university life is sustainable mobility.
"When designing mobility as a university, the core issue is actually to get users to switch to environmentally friendly modes of transport as much as possible," says Professor Dr. Ulrich Müller-Steinfahrt, head of the Institute for Applied Logistics and sustainability officer at THWS. It makes neither economic nor ecological sense for every employee and student to drive to the University in their private cars. The solution: create incentives such as attractive bicycle parking facilities, encourage the use of public transport, or organise carpooling.
Bicycle as a sustainable alternative
The bicycle parking facilities at the various THWS locations leave something to be desired – for now. If Katharina Falkenstein, THWS's climate protection manager, has her way, this will change as soon as possible. "The bicycle parking facilities will be made more attractive and supplemented with bicycle repair stations." There are already a few bicycle parking spaces with repair stations at the THWS locations in Würzburg and Schweinfurt. They make it possible for people who travel by bicycle to pump up their tyres on the go, for example. Such parking facilities make it easier for all cyclists to travel to work or university by bicycle. This eliminates the fear of having to walk home with a tyre that is not fully inflated or even flat. This makes it more attractive to get on your bike, says Falkenstein. In addition, the parking spaces are to be covered so that the bicycles are protected from wind and weather.
Upgrade from semester ticket to a Deutschlandticket
But what about students and staff who have to change university locations or commute longer distances to university that cannot be covered on foot or by bicycle? For them, public transport is an environmentally friendly alternative to the car. Students currently have the option of upgrading their semester ticket, which is valid in the WVV area, to a Deutschlandticket. For EUR 21.92 in Würzburg and EUR 30.67 in Schweinfurt instead of EUR 59, it is an inexpensive way to travel from Würzburg to Schweinfurt and back, as well as to travel throughout Germany on public transport.
In future, there are plans to change the semester ticket and the job ticket so that no upgrade is required and everyone can automatically use the Deutschlandticket as part of their semester and job tickets. This will enable people who have to commute to the campuses, i.e. who do not live in Schweinfurt or Würzburg, to travel to the University in a cost-effective and sustainable manner.
The uRyde carpooling portal
Where public transport connections are poor, carpooling can be an alternative. For this purpose, the uRyde carpooling portal will be introduced into university life at the beginning of the 2025 summer semester. On the uRyde carpooling portal, staff and students can offer car journeys that they would have to make by car anyway. Others can match these journeys and then travel together. People outside THWS can also use the portal. "Various companies and universities throughout the region are participating," says Katharina Falkenstein. Carpooling is arranged across companies and universities, which means that anyone who participates and registers their employees and students can book trips. It doesn't matter who drives with whom or where they go – what counts are the CO₂ emissions saved together.
Electric cars instead of combustion engines
But what do you do if the distance you need to cover can only be managed with your own car? The solution: electric cars. Purchasing an electric car is a viable alternative, especially for employees. To this end, THWS wants to expand the charging options for electric cars. Bertram Sauer, head of THWS facilities management, is responsible for this. He is confident that construction work can begin in early 2025. "The implementation ashould take place as soon as possible. Everything has already been commissioned in Münzstraße."
The plan is to install "four charging stations per location in Würzburg, and we have started with the location on Münzstraße," says Bertram Sauer. In Schweinfurt, new electric charging stations are planned at two different locations. One is at the large car park at the round building of buildings 3 and 4, and the other is at the east car park, where four new charging stations are also to be installed. The big advantage of the planned electric charging stations is that they will all be powered by green electricity, which keeps the carbon footprint clean.
"Giving up personal convenience"
Sustainable mobility is an essential building block on the path to a sustainable future for THWS. Everyone can contribute to this. A lot can be achieved by making individual decisions about how to get to THWS every day. Professor Dr. Müller-Steinfahrt sums it up: "Give up personal convenience." This is probably the most important tip for anyone wondering how they can improve their own ecological footprint when it comes to sustainable mobility. Taking your bike even in wind and weather, looking for a carpool instead of using your own car, or even taking the train sometimes, even if it takes a few minutes longer – these are small personal contributions to greater sustainability that can have a big impact on climate protection when added up.
