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Cycling as Critical Infrastructure for Green Start-Ups: A Multilevel Analysis in Germany

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  • Blom Meijering

    (Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR), Federal Office for Building and Regional Planning (BBR), Deichmanns Aue 31–37, 53179 Bonn, Germany
    Institute of Geography, University of Cologne (UoC), Albertus-Magnus-Platz, 50923 Cologne, Germany)

Abstract

Despite physical infrastructure being known as a critical enabler of entrepreneurship, cycling infrastructure and its role in entrepreneurship remain largely unexplored. However, a well-established cycling infrastructure can support green start-up activity by facilitating connectivity and the exchange of knowledge and ideas without the reliance on carbon-intensive transport, which aligns with their environmental goals. This article studies the relationship between cycling infrastructure and green start-up activity at the regional (NUTS-3) level in Germany and whether this relationship is amplified by the wider entrepreneurial ecosystem (EE). This study is virtually the first to examine how a well-established cycling infrastructure is conducive to start-up activity. With firm-level data from the IAB/ZEW Start-up Panel, multilevel regression models are used to account for differences in green start-up activity across urban, intermediate, and rural regions. The findings show a strong significant and positive relationship between cycling infrastructure and green start-up activity at the regional level, even after including various controls. However, this relationship is not amplified by the wider ecosystem. In the transition towards a Green Economy, policymakers should invest in cycling infrastructure because of its supportive role towards green start-ups.

Suggested Citation

  • Blom Meijering, 2025. "Cycling as Critical Infrastructure for Green Start-Ups: A Multilevel Analysis in Germany," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(8), pages 1-19, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:17:y:2025:i:8:p:3441-:d:1633449
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