Research project investigates the use of cycle logistics in rural areas

On 30 September 2024, the kick-off of the recently launched research project RADLÄR (RADlogistik in LÄndlichen Räumen) took place digitally with all participating project partners, the Federal Office for Logistics and Mobility (BALM) and the Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport Affairs (BMDV). The aim of the three-year project is to identify needs, potential applications and obstacles to the use of cargo bikes as logistics solutions in various rural model regions, simulate appropriate solutions and then draft recommendations for policymakers and businesses. RADLÄR is supported by the BMDV with around 1.3 million euros. The project manager is BALM.

According to reports by the Federal Environment Agency, the transport sector in Germany accounts for a significant proportion of climate-damaging emissions, so research into new transport concepts is urgently needed. While cargo bikes are already being used successfully in cities, their potential in rural areas has so far been little investigated. The RADLÄR research project is closing this gap.

As part of the project, new, generally applicable processes, for example for transporting goods over the last mile, are therefore being developed and tested for cycle logistics in order to improve commercial transport by cargo bike in rural areas. The project is aimed at both enterprises and public stakeholders who want to support sustainable mobility and logistics solutions. RADLÄR aims to create business-friendly, low-emission and future-proof transport solutions in order to offer a sustainable alternative in freight transport.

In order to achieve these goals, participatory workshops are being organised in the six model regions of Bad Soden-Salmünster, Emsland, Havixbeck, Herzberg (Elster), Hochsauerlandkreis and Hofstetten as a first step. In these workshops, residents, enterprises and administrations are brought together and their needs for the use of (cargo) bicycles, ideas and visions are collected. The RADLÄR project team then develops logistics concepts for integrating cargo bikes into regional value chains that meet the specific local requirements and challenges. In this context, simulations are used to test and optimise process chains. The findings from the model regions will be analysed for commonalities in order to derive conclusions for Germany as a whole.

RADLÄR is coordinated by the Fraunhofer Institute for Scientific and Technological Trend Analyses (INT). The Fraunhofer INT is primarily responsible for analysing the potential for and obstacles to bicycle logistics in rural areas. Researchers from Frankfurt am Main and Fulda are also involved in the project. Fulda University of Applied Sciences will develop innovative process chains for cycle logistics in rural areas. Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences will test and optimise the feasibility of the developed process chains using simulations.

As associated partners, not only the administrations of the six model regions and municipalities are actively supporting the project, but also the courier, express and parcel service provider Hermes, which is already using cycle logistics to make deliveries in major German cities.

The initial course for the project was set at an internal kick-off meeting on 20 September 2024 in Frankfurt am Main. Fraunhofer INT, the universities from Fulda and Frankfurt am Main and Hermes jointly agreed on how they could involve the population, enterprises, administrations and politicians in the project. Surveys of experts and interested citizens in the municipalities are planned for the near future. The BMDV is supporting the project with around 1.3 million euros as part of the guidelines for sponsoring non-investment measures to implement the National Cycling Plan. The project duration is three years.

To the project website