The Technische Hochschule Mittelhessen (THM) has once again been awarded the silver level of "bicycle-friendly employer" certification. The certificate from the General German Bicycle Club (ADFC) confirms THM 's ongoing commitment to sustainable mobility and providing excellent conditions for employees who cycle to work.
THM first received the silver certificate in 2023. As part of the recertification process, overseen by university sport (Christina Paulencu and Maili Winoto) and the Sustainability Office (Prof. Holger Rohn), the university's progress since then was reviewed. The results are positive: THM has consistently continued existing programs and systematically expanded its activities. The audit report particularly highlights that cycling is now an integral part of the university's mobility concept and is thus understood as a key component of sustainable university development.
Regular activities include the annual Bike Action Day and participation in the City Cycling competition. This year, the THM team finished in sixth place. The university also organizes group bike rides and supports its employees with bicycle-friendly infrastructure. This includes secure bike parking, repair stations, and shower and changing facilities at all campuses. Since 2025, the OPEN A5 Makerspace on the Friedberg campus has complemented these offerings, providing tools for bicycle repairs and offering bicycle-related workshops.
“ THM has implemented many measures that make cycling an attractive and safe option for commuting,” emphasizes Sara Tsudome, project manager at the ADFC (General German Bicycle Club). This commitment not only benefits the health of employees but also underlines the university's commitment to taking responsibility for sustainable mobility.
Bicycle-friendly employers promote cycling with a holistic concept that goes far beyond simply providing bicycle racks. The evaluation criteria include infrastructure, services, communication measures, and the integration of sustainable mobility into organizational development. The ADFC (General German Bicycle Club) awarded THM (Technical University of Central Hesse) a certificate, presented by Walter Lenz, Chairman of the ADFC Giessen , recognizing its convincing strategic direction, strong service orientation, and close networking with municipal and regional partners. The implemented measures make it easier for employees to cycle to work and make sustainable mobility visible and attractive. And you don't even need your own bike: THM supports the Nextbike bike-sharing service, which is primarily aimed at students but is also available to employees – and even free for the first 60 minutes of a ride this year.
“We are proud and pleased that we have once again convinced the ADFC (General German Bicycle Club) to re-certify our facilities,” said Vice President Prof. Dirk Metzger, who is responsible for strategic building planning as well as sustainability. The fact that representatives from sustainability management, university sport , and facility management attended the handover ceremony demonstrated how important cycling is as a cross-cutting theme at the university.
The ADFC also sees further potential for the future. With an even stronger integration of cycling-related information into the onboarding process for new employees and a further systematization of the services offered, THM could even achieve the gold level in a future certification.