Stadtradeln (City Cycling)
21-day campaign by Klima-Bündnis e.V. where cities and rural districts compete on how many bike-kilometers their residents collectively log via app. Schools, clubs, companies, citizen groups form sub-teams under their municipality's banner.
Direct municipality-vs-municipality leaderboard (absolute km and per-capita). Annual national rankings published; mayors publicly campaign their town to 'beat' the neighbouring district. Stuttgart, Berlin, Munich, etc. brag about year-on-year km.
Within a city you form sub-teams (school class, workplace, sports club, neighborhood). Sub-team km roll up to the city total, so commuting + recreational rides done together count for both your team and your town. Also has RADar!. Citizens report bad cycling infrastructure, building local advocacy collective during the 21 days.
Massive scale (millions of citizens), 17+ years of data, strong municipal buy-in (mayor as 'team captain'). Shows the model works for adults across thousands of geographic units, not just kids in one town.
Others in the same family
Stadtradeln (CITY CYCLING)
Climate Alliance's nationwide 21-day cycling competition where 3,000+ German municipalities compete on a public leaderboard by total km cycled. Members of local parliaments are explicitly invited to form teams with citizens. In Stuttgart 2026, 8,809 participants logged 1,799,418 km in 21 days.
Sustrans Big Walk and Wheel (formerly Big Pedal)
UK's largest inter-school active-travel challenge run by Walk Wheel Cycle Trust (Sustrans). For two weeks, schools log every walked, wheeled, scooted or cycled journey via a school portal; a school's best five days determine final position on a national leaderboard, with badges and certificates.
STADTRADELN (City Cycling)
21-day national bicycle-kilometer competition organized by Klima-Bündnis (Climate Alliance). Over 1.2 million participants in 2024-2025. Citizens log kilometers via app or website; municipalities and councils form teams.
Klima-Taler
App by Berlin greentech Blacksquared. Every 5 kg of CO2 saved (via cycling, transit, energy-saving) earns one digital Klima-Taler redeemable at participating local retailers. In 2024 the city of Leer in East Frisia saved 291.3 tons of CO2 and topped the national ranking, with 54 partner shops and 10,000+ redeemed Talers.
Climathon (EIT Climate-KIC)
24-48 hour citizen hackathon run by EIT Climate-KIC. Each participating city sets its own local climate challenge; teams of citizens, students, and entrepreneurs develop solutions. Best team in each city receives Climate-KIC coaching post-event. Over 30,000 participants since 2015.
Wiener Klimateam (Vienna Climate Team)
City of Vienna participatory program where residents in specific districts (Bezirke) submit climate-protection ideas; municipal climate councils review and fund the best. Operates on a rotating district cycle with €6M+ budgeted in 2024. Each Bezirk has its own cohort and outputs.