Mobility Strategy 2030: Leipzig’s journey towards carbon neutrality

Leipzig is not only one of the most dynamic and fastest-growing cities in Germany, but also one of the most liveable cities in the country with its green spaces and its low-emission transport system. The resulting continuous population growth is also contributing to sustained pressure on traffic circulation. Today, the City of Leipzig faces a set of challenges: one of these is to implement an inclusive mobility system without impacting the environment with excessive CO2 emissions.

Thanks to an abundance of urban greenery, Leipzig has the ideal characteristics of a true cycling city. Since 1994, its cycling infrastructure has been rapidly expanding and, with it, the number of daily journeys made by Leipzigers by bike have drastically increased! Today, there are almost 955 bicycles for every 1000 people in Leipzig. Therefore, addressing the mobility needs of cyclists, means addressing the mobility needs of a large number of residents of Leipzig. Moreover, different types of bicycles, such as cargo bikes, for transporting children and goods, are becoming increasingly popular. By building safer cycling infrastructure, Leipzig has triggered a virtuous cycle of more cycling, and, in recognition of its ambitious cycling policies, the city was chosen as the host of the annual world cycling summit, Velo-city 2023.

Leipzig has an ambitious goal: to become carbon neutral by 2040 – ten years before the European Union. As part of the green deal, the EU aims to be climate-neutral by 2050 – an economy with net-zero greenhouse gas emissions. In just twenty years, Leipzig will cut down CO2 emissions from 5.18 tons per capita to 0.25 tons. How can the City lead the transition and successfully reach such an ambitious goal?

In Leipzig, civic participation and active citizenship are pivotal within decision-making processes, including the development of new urban mobility strategies. In 2018, Leipzig citizens’ representative body voted unanimously in favour of the sustainability scenario, which considers cycling, walking and public transport to be a priority. This became the Mobility Strategy 2030.

The Mobility Strategy 2030

Leipzig’s Mobility Strategy focuses on the so-called environmental alliance: walking, cycling and local public transport. The goal is to reach a 70% modal share of the environmental alliance (23% public transport, 23% cycling and 24% walking). In order to achieve this milestone, the city will invest more than 1.5 billion euros in cycling, walking and public transport by 2030.

The city administration intends to create new cycling facilities on its main roads, expand bicycle parking facilities, build a bicycle parking garage at the main railway station and improve road maintenance on important cycle routes during the winter. A new last-mile logistic concept will also be implemented. This will see all deliveries destined for the city bundled outside the city centre and delivered with low-emission vehicles, such as cargo bikes. The overall investment in Leipzig’s infrastructure, including cycling paths, will amount to 60 million euros.

Nevertheless, creating an attractive local public transport system that is a viable alternative to car ownership is not easy. As times and people’s mobility needs are changing, so is the city’s urban planning. Leipzig is working on speeding up bus and tram services and has already converted one of the lanes on its ring road into a cycling path.

Vision for Leipzig

In addition to the Mobility Strategy 2030, Leipzig also formulated a Vision for Leipzig. This is grounded on five pillars: mobility should be safe, reliable, clean, affordable and accessible for all. The transition to a climate-neutral society is both an urgent challenge and an opportunity to build a better future for all. All parts of society and all economic sectors will have to play a role, first and foremost, the mobility sector. With its Mobility Strategy 2030, the city of Leipzig is firmly committed to leading the transition.

Velo-city is the world cycling summit, where advocates, cities, decision- and policy makers, researchers and industry leaders meet to shape the future of cycling. As the annual flagship event of the European Cyclists’ Federation, Velo-city plays a valuable part in promoting cycling as a sustainable and healthy means of transport for all. Taking place under the theme #LeadingTheTransition, Velo-city 2023 Leipzig will ask the inevitable question: What future do we want to live in? Join us for an unforgettable conference experience from 9–12 May 2023.