Active participation in the nationwide campaign “Bike To Work” has become a tradition at Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice. This year was no exception, and our employees supported the development of sustainable transport in Slovakia. The teams that took part in the 12th edition of the competition achieved remarkable results.
The main organizers are national cycling coordinator Peter Klučka and the Slovak Ministry of Transport. The organization and professional supervision are provided by the Civic Cycling Initiative Banská Bystrica. This year, nearly 15,000 competitors formed more than 4,300 teams to participate in the campaign to promote sustainable modes of transport. Thanks to their efforts, in June we saved nearly 670,000 kg of CO2 in Slovakia. Slovaks cycled 1,920,353 km (last year it was 1,716,572 km), traveled a total of 948,397 km by public transport (the previous year: 638,332 km) and walked as much as 108,182 km (compared to 88,611 km in 2024).
The main organizers are national cycling coordinator Peter Klučka and the Slovak Ministry of Transport. The organization and professional supervision are provided by the Civic Cycling Initiative Banská Bystrica. This year, nearly 15,000 competitors formed more than 4,300 teams to participate in the campaign to promote sustainable modes of transport. Thanks to their efforts, in June we saved nearly 670,000 kg of CO2 in Slovakia. Slovaks cycled 1,920,353 km (last year it was 1,716,572 km), traveled a total of 948,397 km by public transport (the previous year: 638,332 km) and walked as much as 108,182 km (compared to 88,611 km in 2024).
A total of 20 teams and 67 individuals from Pavol Jozef Šafárik University in Košice took part in the Bike to Work 2025 challenge. Together, UPJŠ employees traveled almost 9,000 kilometers (2,033 trips) using alternative transportation and saved approximately 1,907 kg of CO2 in June. In 2024, it was almost 4,000 km and 900 kg of CO2 saved.
| Means of travel | UPJŠ’s rank in the competition | Number of rides | Number of kilometres | Kgs of CO2 saved |
| Cykling | 56. | 681 | 2733,25 | 683,37 |
| Walking | 13. | 885 | 1680,22 | 455,32 |
| Public transport | 19. | 467 | 4547,98 | 768,63 |
Employees of 12 Slovak universities traveled to and from work by bicycle, among which UPJŠ took 2nd place in all three categories. The final evaluation of the competition and the presentation of diplomas to our employees took place on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, at the UPJŠ Rector’s Office. Ing. Ivan Pezlar, DBA, MBA, the Quaestor of UPJŠ praised the initiative of the employees and presented them with awards: “It is admirable how the results improve every year, not only throughout Slovakia, but also within our university. I appreciate the initiative of the employees who participate every year, their desire to contribute to positive change and to protect the environment. I am glad that in this way they represent UPJŠ as a modern university that is aware of its ecological responsibility. I wish our employees many happy kilometers.”
Inspiration for 2026 for those who are hesitant:
✔ YOU ARE DOING IT FOR YOUR OWN HEALTH – Cycling and walking are the best remedies for stress, everyday worries, and sedentary jobs.
✔ TOGETHER FOR OUR CITY – Cleaner air, quieter and safer streets, and no more endless waiting in traffic jams.
✔ TOGETHER FOR OUR PLANET – Our planet = our home. It is time we realized that each and every one of us is responsible for the environment in which we live.✔ EASEING THE FAMILY BUDGET – The money saved on car and fuel costs can be used more effectively. A family vacation or weekend in nature is sure to please everyone.
