Short distances in rural areas: "ProvinzNETZ" project launched

While cycling has become significantly more important in German cities, rural areas continue to face considerable structural challenges: Distances between villages are often long, cycling connections between villages are patchy or non-existent, and local public transport is only available to a limited extent. As a result, many people are heavily reliant on private cars even for short everyday journeys. At the same time, national studies show that a significant proportion of the population would switch to cycling if the infrastructure and links with public transport were improved. 

The ProvinzNETZ project was initiated against this backdrop. The Department of Cycling and Sustainable Mobility at the University of Kassel is working with the Technical University of Wildau and the citizens' initiative geRADeWEGs in the district of Gotha (Thuringia) with the aim of connecting villages through cycling infrastructure in order to improve accessibility in rural regions. The Federal Ministry of Transport is funding the project as part of the National Cycling Plan 2030 (NRVP 3.0). It runs from November 2025 to October 2028.

ProvinzNETZ is based on the internationally discussed urban planning concept of the "15-minute city". It aims to make everyday destinations accessible within 15 minutes on foot, by bike or by public transport and transfers the approach to rural communities. The focus here is on cross-connecting villages. Distances of up to five kilometers can be covered within 15 minutes, especially with e-bikes, and thus form the basis for a rural "15-minute network". The aim is to strengthen local services, social participation and the overall quality of life through safe, continuous and attractive cycling connections between villages. Prof. Dr. Angela Francke, Head of the Department of Cycling and Local Mobility at the University of Kassel, emphasizes: "Rural regions need mobility solutions that do justice to their spatial and social conditions. With ProvinzNETZ, we are investigating how inter-municipal cycling infrastructure can systematically improve accessibility and quality of life beyond urban centers. The project enables us to combine mobility research with analyses of cooperation and decision-making structures as well as practice-oriented implementation strategies for structurally weaker regions."

Both a model region in the district of Gotha and several comparative regions in Germany are being investigated. Based on empirical analyses, specialist workshops and the involvement of relevant stakeholders, the project is developing a practice-oriented "toolbox" for local authorities. This includes planning strategies, recommendations for cooperation and organization as well as transferable implementation guidelines for cycling networks in rural areas. By combining scientific research, civic engagement and inter-municipal cooperation, ProvinzNETZ aims to demonstrate how active mobility can become a key driver of sustainable development in rural regions.

Collaborative research approach
ProvinzNETZ is a cooperative, interdisciplinary research project that brings together stakeholders from science and civil society. Wildau University of Applied Sciences is responsible for the overall coordination of the project. The Department of Cycling and Sustainable Mobility at the University of Kassel is responsible in particular for work packages on mobility behavior and accessibility analyses. A special feature of the project is the close cooperation with the citizens' initiative geRADeWEGs, which has been campaigning for inter-municipal cycling connections in the district of Gotha for several years. Their local expertise, civic engagement and practical experience form a central basis for the research project and help to ensure that scientific findings are closely aligned with the needs and expectations of local people

Contact

Prof. Dr. Angela Francke
University of Kassel, Department of Cycling and Local Mobility 
Tel.: 0561 804-7703
Mail: radverkehr@uni-kassel.de