Cycle for change – The University of Pécs is doing just that

25 bicycles, 25 new commitments to sustainability, ceremoniously handed over by the Green University Program Office of the UP and the Sports Office of the UP to employees, as part of the "Cycle to work at the university!" initiative, which is now in its second year of encouraging the institution's employees to come to work on two wheels.

The sun was shining on 12th May, adding to the cheerful atmosphere, with enthusiastic faces and, of course, bicycles filling the venue. The management of the University of Pécs not only handed over bicycles, but also pointed the way towards a more carbon-neutral, healthier, and more liveable everyday life.

"The University of Pécs' commitment to sustainable transport is a good example of how an institution's operations can be developed with environmental considerations in mind—even if change does not always happen overnight. Sustainability is not a matter of a single decision or perfection, but a continuous effort: a series of small but conscious steps that together lead to real results.

Whenever possible, more and more UP employees are choosing more sustainable transportation solutions. As part of the Green University Program, the institution promotes low-emission forms of transport on several levels: encouraging bicycle use, supporting electric vehicles, and rethinking logistics processes are all steps in this direction. Encouraging cycling is particularly important, not only from an environmental point of view, but also from a practical one: it alleviates parking problems, reduces urban noise, and contributes to a healthier lifestyle. These changes are not spectacular, but they are all the more significant – and it is our responsibility to do our part whenever we can," emphasized István Decsi, Chancellor of the University of Pécs, and continued: "I am delighted to see that not only colleagues from Pécs have registered, but also participants from Mohács, for example.

This also shows that there is a need for this approach to be present not only locally, but also at other university campuses."