For the third year in a row, our university has taken part in one of the challenges from the Bike to Work portfolio. A total of 39 colleagues formed 15 teams across 11 faculties and other university units (Faculty of Arts, Faculty of Humanities, Faculty of Social Sciences, Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, Faculty of Law, Second Faculty of Medicine, Third Faculty of Medicine, Environment Centre, Central Library, Karolinum Press, and Rectorate), and joined the May Bike to Work Challenge 2026.
The strongest representation came from the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics, each of which was represented by three teams. Among the registered participants, there were several veteran teams that have taken part repeatedly under the same name, as well as teams that have undergone a rebranding and entered the challenge with fresh ambitions (Yes, foFFr lamy, we mean you!). There were also completely new teams that set out to leave their mark on our imaginary rankings. And just like in previous years, this year’s May Challenge was marked by some truly impressive sporting performances!
Our heroic group of thirty-nine participants cycled almost 11,000 km together (10,990 km, to be precise). That is roughly 280 km per person, approximately the same distance as if each of them had cycled from Prague Main Railway Station all the way to Zlín. An amazing achievement!
However, the Bike to Work Challenge also has an important environmental dimension. It is not only about raising awareness of the carbon footprint associated with transport, but also about making a real effort to reduce one’s own emissions. Over the past month, our participants collectively saved 1,995 kg of CO₂ on their journeys compared with travelling by car.
What does that roughly mean?
The savings correspond approximately to the emissions that would be produced by burning 850 litres of petrol.
Burning a whole tonne of coal would produce almost the same carbon footprint.
The emissions saved correspond roughly to 160,000 mobile phone charges.
That is approximately the amount of CO₂ that 33 young trees would absorb over ten years of growth.
Our collective savings correspond approximately to the amount of CO₂ that 0.8 hectares of forest can absorb in one year.
Final rankings
And now to the results of our 39 brave participants! This year, of course, we are once again sharing the results of the individual teams.
Teams in the first places were:
1st place: Trojplacka z Vinohrad from the Third Faculty of Medicine (3,624.86 km)
2nd place: foFFr lamy from the Faculty of Arts (1,744.29 km)
3rd place: Krumpáči from the Faculty of Social Sciences (1,616.42 km)
Honourable mentions:
4th place: Spinové Echo from the Faculty of Mathematics and Physics (1,012.83 km), 5th place: Stínové kroky FFpřed! from the Faculty of Arts (855.07 km), 6th place: Liška from Karolinum Press (675 km)
Congratulations to the best of the best on bikes; and thank you to everyone helping to get Charles University moving in a more sustainable direction. Whether you took part in the competition or simply choose cycling, walking, or another low-emission mode of transport on a regular basis, every journey counts.
Thanks to everyone from CU who joined the Bike to Work challenge. Next time, there might be even more of us!
Low-emission means of transport will be back in full swing this May as part of the May Bike to Work Challenge 2026, traditionally organised by the AutoMat association. And of course, our university can’t miss out!
We therefore invite all employees, whether you like physical activity or not, to sign up for the team competition and represent your faculty or university unit as part of the university-wide team challenge.
By taking part, you will support not only environmental protection, but also your own health. It doesn’t matter whether you travel by bicycle, scooter, or wheelchair, the important thing is that it’s a low-emission way of getting around.
We look forward to your registrations and to some healthy competition between university teams!
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact the Charles University coordinator .
The May Challenge is aimed at teams of 2–5 members who, throughout the entire month, work together not only to achieve the highest possible number of kilometres cycled or walked, but above all to be as consistent as possible! Sustainability is about long-term goals.
For the 16th edition of the May Bike to Work Challenge, there are no price tiers, only distribution waves. The participation fee (VAT-exempt) is set for the entire registration period at:
- 399 CZK without a package
- 579 CZK with a package (T-shirt or socks)
Wave 1 | 1–28 February 2026 |
Wave 2 | 1–31 March 2026 |
Wave 3 | 1–15 April 2026 |
Wave 4 | 16–30 April 2026 |
AutoMat ships the packages after the end of each distribution wave.
After opening the page for the May Challenge, you will begin filling in the required information for registration. It is crucial that, when entering your details, you also include the payment information (see the example in the attached screenshot).
This year, at CU, it is only possible to pay with your own funds.
At the same time, it’s important to indicate which organization you are registering for. In our case, select the organization type “School” and then “Univerzita Karlova” (see the example in the attached screenshot). With this setting, the kilometers you ride will be counted centrally toward CU.
Even though the team registrations at Charles University won’t be reimbursed this year, selected people at the university (self-employed contractors, students, and pensioneers) might at least be pleased by this news: three health insurance companies, VZP, OZP, and ČPZP, have decided to support the event this year by covering the entry fee for their insured clients.You can find more information on this topic, as well as on the May Challenge on the AutoMat website.
Mgr. Ing. Nikola Rusová
Sustainable Development Manager
