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.
Live nationwide leaderboard ranks municipalities (and counties) by total kilometres cycled during the 21-day window; cities and districts directly compete for top placement. Daily updates show which city is in the lead.
Within each municipality, residents form teams (workplaces, schools, clubs, neighbourhood groups) with team captains - often local politicians acting as captains. Distances are pooled to the city total, so teammates encourage each other to ride more so their city climbs the national ranking.
Rare example of explicit *municipality-vs-municipality* leaderboard with intra-municipality team structure baked in. Politicians-as-captains creates accountability hook. The mechanic (collective km logged via app -> city ranking) is highly transferable to any civic challenge.
Others in the same family
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.
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.
Greene Goosechase (Springfield-Greene, MO)
City-run interactive citywide scavenger hunt on the Goosechase platform. Missions are tied to local environmental themes (recycling drop-offs, native plant tours, river clean-ups). Participants submit photo/video proof and climb a public leaderboard.
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.