Cycle4Climate: Co-creating Sustainable Cycling Solutions for Reducing CO2 Emissions in the Central Baltic Region

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A Finland-Estonia-Latvia-Sweden (Central Baltic)

Date of latest update: 2025-01-21

Description

Description (EN):

To reduce CO2 emissions from urban transport, public planning authorities need knowledge about effective and feasible ways of promoting bike travel over car travel. The objective of Cycle4Climate (C4C) is to implement and evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of physical and social behavioural interventions aimed at making people switch from car travel to bike travel in four transport areas in four cities (Espoo, Finland; Gävle, Sweden; Pärnu, Estonia; Riga, Latvia). The approach of C4C is comprised of three main components that each constitute a work package: WP1) integrated measurements and analysis of traffic and travel to estimate CO2 emissions over time in the transport areas, WP2) behavioural interventions for promoting biking in the transport areas, and WP3) face-to-face events for coordinating measurements and interventions, generalising insights, and creating an evidence-backed intervention toolbox. WP3 encapsulates the cross-border element of the project that is crucial for reaching the desired results. Testing and evaluating many potentially effective and feasible behavioural interventions is beyond the scope of any individual city. Hence, simultaneous pilot interventions within a wider cross-border cooperation project can accelerate knowledge co-creation and uptake of efficient tools in planning practice. In addition, the activities in WP1 and WP2 will benefit from cross-border coordination in the initial phase of the project when interventions and measurement methodologies are jointly prepared. The project will result in three outputs: 1) estimations of CO2 emissions from traffic and travel over time in the transport areas, 2) implementation of behavioural interventions in transport areas, and 3) cross-border knowledge co-creation, synthesised in the form of an intervention toolbox. These outputs will benefit several stakeholder groups. First, partner city officials, policymakers, and decision-makers all seek to reduce CO2 emissions from traffic by increasing the share of bicycles in their cities. The project will provide them with in-depth knowledge about effective and feasible tools for achieving this. Second, adult car users (our target group) will directly benefit from the interventions, as the interventions will be designed using evidence-backed tools to promote cycling. This group will be supported in their efforts to change their travel behaviour in a more sustainable and healthy direction. Third, the academic community will benefit as C4C will provide information about how physical interventions and social interventions interact in pilot actions implemented by public planning authorities and the feasibility of scaling up such pilot actions from a public planning perspective. Fourth, companies active in the transport areas will benefit by being directly involved in interventions in some of the cities. They will receive support for implementation of their corporate responsibility and sustainability action plans and strategies through C4C activities. C4C fills an important gap by focusing in a structured and systematic way on physical and social behavioural interventions in combination. Furthermore, the attention paid to integrated measurements of traffic volumes and individuals’ travel patterns allow for a thorough evaluation of the effect of interventions. The interventions are implemented over a generous period (2 years), to allow new behavioural patterns to emerge. All these aspects contribute to the validity of the intervention toolbox. The toolbox format is chosen since it can achieve the balance needed between general evidence-backed interventions and flexibility to adapt to contextual factors that differ between cities, thereby accelerating uptake in planning practice.

Expected Achievements (EN):

To evaluate bike traffic and travel over time in four transport areas and associated changes in CO2 intensity. To implement and evaluate the feasibility of bike-promoting interventions in four transport areas. To co-create and share knowledge across borders about bike-promoting interventions and their effectiveness and feasibility.

Project outputs: Estimation of CO2 emissions from traffic and travel over time in relation to transport areas(EN)
Implementation of behavioural interventions in transport areas(EN)
Creation and dissemination of generalised insights in international events(EN)

Thematic information

Evaluation systems and results Transport and mobility Waste and pollution

Priority: (VI-A_CB_P2) Improved environment and resource use

Priority specific objective: RSO2.8. Promoting sustainable multimodal urban mobility, as part of transition to a net zero carbon economy

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO2 A greener, low-carbon transitioning towards a net zero carbon economy and resilient Europe by promoting clean and fair energy transition, green and blue investment, the circular economy, climate change mitigation and adaptation, risk prevention and management, and sustainable urban mobility

Type of intervention: 085 Digitalisation of transport when dedicated in part to greenhouse gas emissions reduction: urban transport

Partners (8)

Lead Partner: Högskolan i Gävle

Partner’s ID if not PIC: SE202100289001

Department: Faculty of Engineering and Sustainable Development

Address: Kungbäcksvägen 47, SE-801 76 Gävle, Sweden

Department address: Kungbäcksvägen 47, SE-801 76 Gävle, Sweden

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://www.hig.se/

Total budget: EUR 445 879.87

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 356 703.89

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 89 175.98

Rīgas Tehniskā universitāte

Name: Rīgas Tehniskā universitāte

Department: Faculty of Architecture

Partner’s ID if not PIC: LV90000068977

Address: Ķīpsalas iela, LV-1048 Riga, Latvia

Department address: Ķīpsalas iela, LV-1048 Riga, Latvia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://www.rtu.lv/

Total budget: EUR 153 185.83

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 122 548.66

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 30 637.17

Rīgas dome

Name: Rīgas dome

Partner’s ID if not PIC: LV90011524360

Address: Rātslaukums, LV-1050 Riga, Latvia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: https://www.riga.lv/lv

Total budget: EUR 247 196.18

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 197 756.94

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 49 439.24

Gävle kommun

Name: Gävle kommun

Department: Habitat Gävle

Partner’s ID if not PIC: SE2120002338

Address: Drottninggatan, 803 11 Gävle, Sweden

Department address: Kyrkogatan, 803 11 Gävle, Sweden

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: https://www.gavle.se/

Total budget: EUR 420 230.70

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 336 184.56

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 84 046.14

Espoon kaupunki

Name: Espoon kaupunki

Department: Centre of excellence for sustainable development

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 0101263-6

Address: P.O. Box, 02070 ESPOON KAUPUNKI, Finland

Department address: P.O. Box, 02070 ESPOON KAUPUNKI, Finland

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: https://www.espoo.fi/

Total budget: EUR 402 616.40

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 322 093.12

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 80 523.28

Pärnu Linnavalitsus

Name: Pärnu Linnavalitsus

Department: Development Department

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 75000064

Address: Suur-Sepa, 80098 Pärnu, Estonia

Department address: Suur-Sepa, 80098 Pärnu, Estonia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: https://parnu.ee/

Total budget: EUR 314 875.94

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 251 900.75

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 62 975.19

Tartu Ülikool

Name: Tartu Ülikool

Department: Mobility Lab, Department of Geography, Institute of Ecology and Earth Sciences

Partner’s ID if not PIC: EE100030417

Address: Ülikooli, 50090 Tartu, Estonia

Department address: Vanemuise, 51003 Tartu, Estonia

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://ut.ee/

Total budget: EUR 210 849.80

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 168 679.84

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 42 169.96

Metropolia Ammattikorkeakouli Oy

Name: Metropolia Ammattikorkeakouli Oy

Partner’s ID if not PIC: FI20945511

Address: Myllypurontie, 00920 Helsinki, Finland

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://www.metropolia.fi/

Total budget: EUR 240 348.96

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 192 279.16

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 48 069.80

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Riga Technical University

Cycle4Climate: Co-creating Sustainable Cycling Solutions for Reducing CO2 Emissions in the Central Baltic Region

Partners and Projects info

Riga City Council

Cycle4Climate: Co-creating Sustainable Cycling Solutions for Reducing CO2 Emissions in the Central Baltic Region

Partners and Projects info

Municipality of Gävle

Cycle4Climate: Co-creating Sustainable Cycling Solutions for Reducing CO2 Emissions in the Central Baltic Region

Partners and Projects info

City of Espoo

Cycle4Climate: Co-creating Sustainable Cycling Solutions for Reducing CO2 Emissions in the Central Baltic Region

Partners and Projects info

Pärnu City Government

Cycle4Climate: Co-creating Sustainable Cycling Solutions for Reducing CO2 Emissions in the Central Baltic Region

Partners and Projects info

University of Tartu

Cycle4Climate: Co-creating Sustainable Cycling Solutions for Reducing CO2 Emissions in the Central Baltic Region

Partners and Projects info

Metropolia University of Applied Sciences

Cycle4Climate: Co-creating Sustainable Cycling Solutions for Reducing CO2 Emissions in the Central Baltic Region

Partners and Projects info

University of Gävle

Cycle4Climate: Co-creating Sustainable Cycling Solutions for Reducing CO2 Emissions in the Central Baltic Region

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Cycle4Climate: Co-creating Sustainable Cycling Solutions for Reducing CO2 Emissions in the Central Baltic Region

Project acronym: Cycle4Climate

Project ID: CB0300173

Project start date: 2024-06-01

Project end date: 2027-11-30

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

EU Mission: Climate Neutral and Smart Cities by 2030 (EN) | A key synergy between the initiative and C4C is the shared focus on promoting cycling as a sustainable mode of transportation. The mission should work towards its goal by ensuring experimentation and innovation across European cities, which synergises with the field intervention approach in C4C. Espoo, Gävle and Riga are proud members of this initiative. The mission can provide expertise and experiences from other cities that inform C4C and be a platform for dissemination of C4C results. (EN), Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform (EN) | The platform promotes policy learning and knowledge sharing, providing access to regional and local development policies through various channels such as thematic publications, events, webinars, and matchmaking sessions. It also offers direct communication with experts and the opportunity to learn from peers and share experiences. We plan to leverage the Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform to connect with other relevant projects and exchange insights and knowledge. (EN), Portico – the gateway to urban learning (EN) | Portico is a tool and platform developed by the European Urban Initiative(EUI)/European Union. It´s an open space for exchange, discussion and learning about sustainable urban development. The synergy between Portico and C4C lies in their common goal of sustainable urban development. Portico, aimed at enhancing urban policy, strategy, and knowledge-sharing, can be a rich resource for C4C's objectives of promoting cycling and reducing CO2 emissions across borders. The cross-border knowledge creation of C4C can feed into Portico, enriching its content. Equally, C4C can leverage Portico's community and knowledge hub for better designing, implementing, and evaluating bike-promoting interventions. This mutual relationship can foster a more robust framework for achieving their shared sustainability goals. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 2 435 183.68

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 1 948 146.92

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 80.00%

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 1 948 146.92. Co-financing rate, 80.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Deliverables:

Map overview of traffic counters
Traffic dataset
Traffic calculation
Survey questionnaire
Travel dataset
Travel analysis
CO2 emissions calculation
Presentations on traffic, travel and CO2
Publication on traffic, travel and CO2
Social interventions plans
Physical intervention plans
Espoo's first intervention
Gävle's first intervention
Pärnu's first intervention
Riga's first intervention
Communication about interventions
Espoo's second intervention
Gävle's second intervention
Pärnu's second intervention
Riga's second intervention
Communication about interventions
Espoo's third intervention
Gävle's third intervention
Pärnu's third intervention
Riga's third intervention
Communication about interventions
Analysis of feasibility aspects of intervention implementation
Communication and stakeholder engagement plan
First annual event proceedings
Second annual event proceedings
Third annual event proceedings
Online seminar proceedings
Fourth annual event proceedings
Local event proceedings
Local event proceedings
Local event proceedings
Local event proceedings
Toolbox
Publication on project insights and toolbox
Presentations on project insights and toolbox

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

EUStrategyBalticSeaRegion Action 2 of the EUSBSR Transport Policy Arena is the development of measures towards climate-neutral and zero pollution transport. Cycling is a zero-emission mode of transport that reduces greenhouse gas emissions and air pollution if used instead of cars, making it a crucial component of the transition to a climate-neutral and zero pollution urban transport system.
Other Roadmap to fossil-free transport
Roadmap to fossil-free transport is a publication by Finland’s Ministry of Transport and Communications that aims to achieve carbon-neutrality in Finland by 2035. C4C aims to promote the use of bicycles while moving away from car use, which aligns with the Roadmap to fossil-free transport's goal of shifting towards a sustainable mobility system.
Other Climate City Contract 2030 - Viable Cities
Climate City Contract 2030 - Viable Cities aims to make cities more sustainable, liveable and carbon neutral by 2030. The initiative brings together experts, advocates, and policymakers to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and ideas, and to support the implementation of effective strategies for reducing carbon emissions in cities. C4C will engage with experts and policymakers involved in Viable Cities to spread knowledge and increase the uptake of the intervention toolbox across the region.
Other Pärnu Climate Plan 2030
C4C directly contributes to the Pärnu Climate Plan 2030 by promoting cycling, which aligns with the city's goal of reducing CO2 emissions. The project will help the city achieve its target of reducing 120 tons of CO2 emissions annually through increased cycling.
Other European Green Deal
The European Green Deal has the overarching aim to make Europe climate neutral by 2050. The C4C project will enable and support the participating cities on their even more ambitious journey towards climate neutrality. Providing examples, learnings and results that can be shared with other cities in the Central Baltic area and the rest of the EU.

Deliverable (other than infrastructural investment) areas:

Suomi/Finland (FI), Espoo
Sverige (SE), Gävle
Eesti (EE), Pärnu
Latvija (LV), Riga
Sverige (SE), Gävle
Eesti (EE), Pärnu
Latvija (LV), Riga

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 084 - Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects, Measurement unit:
RCO 081 - Participations in joint actions across borders, Measurement unit:

Programme Result Indicator:

PSR5 Improved intermodal transport nodes and transport areas with CO2 reductions, Measurement unit: number

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSBSR

EUSBSR Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSBSR Degree of compliance:

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-A Finland-Estonia-Latvia-Sweden (Central Baltic)

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2025-01-21

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

63 / 112 (56.25%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

251 / 446 (56.28%)

Notes on the data

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Cycle4Climate: Co-creating Sustainable Cycling Solutions for Reducing CO2 Emissions in the Central Baltic Region

Description

Thematic information

Partners (8)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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