Mobility
From the lecture hall to the data center: Sustainability as a common thread – Opportunities and challenges of sustainable mobility
The University of Potsdam is a multi-site institution: its teaching and research facilities are spread across three main campuses - Golm, Neues Palais, and Griebnitzsee - as well as additional branch campuses in Potsdam, throughout the state of Brandenburg, and in Berlin. This spatial structure shapes everyday university life - students, faculty, researchers, and administrative staff travel long distances daily to attend lectures, conduct research projects, attend meetings, or commute between locations.
Mobility is therefore not only a logistical necessity but also a key issue for sustainability: It directly influences the university’s ecological footprint, accessibility for all members, and the attractiveness of the location.
This involves far more than just the choice of transportation: mobility lies at the intersection of climate protection, resource conservation, health, social inclusion, and economic efficiency. A sustainable mobility strategy must take all these dimensions into account while offering practical solutions.
The University of Potsdam aims to promote climate-friendly modes of transportation, optimize travel chains as efficiently as possible, and reduce private motorized transport. Key to this effort is reducing barriers, creating incentives for environmentally friendly options, and expanding partnerships - for example, with public transit systems or ride-sharing providers. In doing so, the University of Potsdam is guided by several key goals of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development (SDGs). The focus is particularly on:
In this way, mobility becomes a shared arena for action, where every choice—whether walking, cycling, taking the bus, or riding the train—can contribute to achieving climate protection goals.
The Status Quo
Transportation’s Contribution to the Carbon Footprint
Mobility accounts for approximately 65% of the University’s greenhouse gas emissions (as of 2018). The largest share comes from local and long-distance rail travel, followed by car travel, which generates about 1,360 tons of CO₂ annually.
Structures and Responsibilities
The Central Department and the University’s Climate Protection Management oversee mobility projects. The Commission for Environment and Mobility, staffed by volunteers, represents the University of Potsdam in all transportation matters. It welcomes ideas, suggestions, or involvement from students and staff.
Sustainable Ways to Get to the University of Potsdam
Current Train Connections and Public Transportation
The university campuses are accessible by train and public transportation. There are currently four regional train lines available: RB20, RB21, RB22, and RB23, as well as the RE1. During peak hours, there are hourly direct connections, for example from Golm toward Berlin or Brandenburg. The campus locations at Am Neuen Palais, Golm, and Griebnitzsee can be efficiently reached via the lines mentioned above as well as numerous bus connections. For travel planning, we recommend consulting the current timetable information from the Berlin-Brandenburg Transport Association (VBB).
Company Ticket and Deutschlandticket Job
To support sustainable commuting, the University of Potsdam offers all employees the proven VBB Company Ticket or the Deutschlandticket Job. With these options, employees can use all public transportation in Berlin and Brandenburg or throughout Germany in a cost-effective and flexible manner. The University also subsidizes the Company Ticket by up to €15 per month. Thanks to employer and federal/state subsidies, the monthly employee contribution is reduced to as low as €40.60 for the Deutschlandticket Job—an attractive, climate-friendly benefit for employees.
Nextbike Partnership – CAMPUSbike for Sustainable Cycling Mobility
Thanks to the partnership with nextbike, students at the University of Potsdam receive 45 free minutes per day on nextbike rental bikes. The free minutes are billed down to the minute and can be split across multiple rentals throughout the day. Employees with a company ticket are eligible for up to two free hours per day. Registration is simple and can be done via the app or website using your university email address.
By Bike
The route between Golm and the Neues Palais (approx. 2 km) is safe and comfortable to cycle—thanks to paved paths along the railroad tracks and the expansion of Lindenallee. In addition, a new bike path is currently under construction (2024) along Kuhfortdamm, which will further improve the connection.
Students benefit from the partnership with Nextbike, which is financially supported by the AStA: Rental bikes can be used free of charge for up to 45 minutes per day.
To promote greater independence on the go, bike repair stations have been available at all university locations since 2019, equipped with tools and air pumps for minor repairs. You can find the locations of the repair stations here.
Employees are also mobile: Since 2020, they have been able to rent campus bikes for work-related trips between locations.
Aims and Projects
The University of Potsdam is committed to climate-friendly mobility that promotes environmentally sustainable modes of transportation and minimizes private motorized vehicle use. To this end, the following measures will be implemented:
- Further expansion of bicycle infrastructure,
- Optimization of public transportation connections,
- Public discussion and solution-oriented approaches to issues such as unregulated parking.
Measures already implemented:
- Expansion of the bike path between the Neues Palais and Golm – resulting in a doubling of bicycle traffic (according to Potsdam’s city traffic count).
- Regular surveys on transportation connections (since 2019).