Since 2021, the City of Vienna has been stepping up the expansion of cycling infrastructure with increased funding from the klimaaktiv mobil program of the Ministry of Climate Protection. The new construction program was published at the end of March 2024. Important cycling axes and gaps in the main cycling network are being tackled and flagship projects such as the Argentinierstraße cycle route are being implemented. We take a look at the highlights in Vienna and the figures behind them.

More kilometers, more quality, high goals

For 2024, Vienna’s City Councillor for Mobility Ulli Sima (SPÖ) presented 46 new projects, resulting in 20 kilometers of cycling infrastructure. The focus is on structurally separated cycle paths, as Martin Blum, the City of Vienna’s Cycling Commissioner and Managing Director of Cycle Competence member Mobility Agency Vienna, explains: “We are focusing on quality. 83 percent of the kilometers are physically separated cycle paths. A further eleven percent are cycle lanes and only five percent are other measures such as cycling against one-way traffic”. Details can be found here at Fahrrad Wien.

Cycle competence member Radlobby sees the focus on separated cycle paths and further expansion as positive in the analysis of the construction program, but is critical of the types of facilities, as Radlobby spokesperson Roland Romano summarizes: “We are critical of the increased use of one-sided bidirectional cycle paths. In urban areas, right-hand traffic should be the rule for many reasons and both sides of the road should be connected to the cycle network. There may be special circumstances that favor one-sided bidirectional cycle lanes. In such cases, however, these should be constructed to a particularly high quality and be equipped with accompanying measures. In this way, the disadvantages of this type of facility can be mitigated and its advantages can be better exploited.”

There are projects for new cycle paths, gap closures and redesigns in numerous districts. These include the construction work for the Argentinierstraße cycle route in the fourth district, which is already well advanced, and the overdue expansion of cycle paths in the Floridsdorf district. In addition, a large number of new “right on red” signs were installed in Vienna in March, and the green arrow can now be seen at 469 locations in Vienna.

Counting points for cycling and modal split show increase

The survey of the modal split of Vienna’s residents shows a cycling mode share of 10% for the first time. However, this does not include commuter traffic from the surrounding area, and the target of reducing car traffic to 20% by 2025 according to the urban development plan is still out of reach. Last year, 11.99 million cyclists were counted at 18 measuring points in Vienna. This corresponds to an increase of three percent compared to the previous year. A seasonal comparison with the previous year shows that summer months such as July 2023 saw an increase of twelve percent, while in the fall, 31 percent more cyclists were counted in September, which was the warmest in the history of measurements in 2023. A detailed analysis can be found in this statistical presentation by the Vienna University of Technology, Department of Transport Planning and Traffic Engineering:

This is based on the public figures from the city council’s cycle counting stations. The rising dark blue area represents the counting stations that have been in use since 2011 and have since added 2 million cyclists, with further counting stations building on this. For example, the highly visible counting stations at Praterstern and Operngasse (gray) since 2014 or the Praterbrücke (light blue). In total, almost 12 million cyclists were recorded at these counting points last year.

Argentinierstraße: conversion to a cycle lane for the Bikehighway-South

A much-discussed redesign of Vienna’s cycling infrastructure can be found in the fourth district. Argentinierstraße has seen a large increase in the number of cyclists in the decades since the cycle paths were built, and the volume of cyclists on the street has even doubled in the last ten years. The conversion of this key route for many cyclists in Vienna into Austria’s first cycle lane based on the Dutch model began at the end of last year. Cycle Competence member Rosinak & Partner was responsible for the detailed planning, with modified one-way regulations reducing motor vehicle traffic. The project was awarded the VCÖ Mobility Prize in 2023. Dutch bicycle mobility consultant Sjors van Duren advised the City of Vienna on the design.

In detail, the redesign of the road means that cyclists and motor vehicles will share a traffic-calmed red-colored roadway, with wide sidewalks and additional greenery. Visibility at junctions will also be improved. Argentinierstraße forms an important piece of the puzzle for the “Radhighway Süd” – a Bikehighway from the city center via the 4th and 10th districts to the southern city limits. The additional gap closure in Herndlgasse from the 2024 construction program ensures that a continuous cycle route over 9 km long will be created from the city center to Lower Austria.

Expansion of cycle paths in Floridsdorf

In Vienna’s 21st district of Floridsdorf, the expansion of the cycle infrastructure network will begin this year, with the main cycle path network to be extended by 6.6 km over the next two years. One focus of the expansion is the construction of a new two-way cycle path along Floridsdorfer Hauptstraße. This will replace the existing one-way cycle paths on both sides. There are also plans for a two-way cycle path with a length of 335 meters for Prager Straße.

The connection to Lower Austria will also be improved by closing gaps in Thaya- and Pinkagasse and by connecting to the cycle path coming from Gerasdorf. Furthermore, closing the gap on Brünner Straße will make it easier to reach the Hospital in Floridsdorf and the city center by bike.

Wagramer Straße complements cycle highway

Another project that will be finalized in 2024 is the cycle path through Prater Straße to Kagraner Platz. The conversion of Praterstraße, including a two-way cycle path up to 4.5 meters wide, was already completed at the end of 2023. This year greening measures and road markings will be added. Another part of the busy “Bikehighway-North” cycle route is now the redesign of Wagramer Straße. Until now, there has been no structurally separated cycle path there. Now the construction of such a four-meter-wide two-way cycle path is to begin. To increase safety for road users, sidewalks will be brought forward and the road surface raised at junctions.

The redesign of the Grätzl will also include a 250-metre-long street park with lawns, places to linger and shady trees.

Cycle paths on Hütteldorfer Straße and Mariahilferstraße

In Hütteldorfer Straße, cyclists previously had to ride on a multi-purpose lane and from Huglgasse onwards in mixed traffic. From April 2024, the City of Vienna will begin construction work on a project that will improve the cycling infrastructure in the neighborhood. The aim of this redesign is to create a connection on Hütteldorfer Straße to Johnstraße. A 3.5 meter wide two-way cycle path will be built along the 1.2 km stretch. From Wurmsergasse, cyclists will then continue through the traffic-calmed Wasserwelt along Meiselstraße.

Äußere Mariahilfer Straße is also to be comprehensively redesigned. According to the published concept, it will include a lane for motor vehicles on the outbound side, a dedicated track for streetcar lines 52 and 60 and a modern, wide two-way cycle path on the inbound side. To this end, the motor vehicle lane previously leading into the city will be converted into a cycle path and the road will become one-way.

Cycle path extension on Fuchsthallergasse and Alserbachstraße

Another innovation is imminent in the 9th district in the area of Fuchsthallergasse and Alserbachstraße. In order to provide a continuous connection between Währinger Straße and Friedensbrücke, the construction of a structurally separated one-way cycle path in Fuchsthallergasse will begin this year. Once this has been completed, there will be structurally separated cycle paths in both directions of traffic; cyclists currently still have to cycle in mixed traffic towards the city center. Construction work on the two-way cycle path in the connected Alserbachstraße will follow in 2025.

What about the “right on red” signs?

March 2024 saw the start of a new wave of green arrow signs for cyclists. The corresponding signage allows cyclists to turn right or continue straight ahead at selected junctions despite red traffic lights. Following the adoption of the new StVO amendment 2022, the installation of the first signs began throughout Austria in October 2022. In total, these additional signs have now been installed at 469 locations in Vienna, 376 of which allow cyclists to turn right and 93 to continue straight ahead at T-junctions. Vienna is setting a good example here: 88% of the green arrows throughout Austria are located in the capital. The green arrows are always approved after careful examination by the Municipal Department 46 for Traffic Organization and Technical Traffic Matters. For example, care is taken to ensure that cycle lanes are available before and after turning in order to increase safety.

Further links

You can find our explanation of the guidelines for the green arrow here.

The bicycle construction programs of the City of Vienna since 2003 can be found here: Wien.gv.at

Renderings and photos: EGKK, Arriola & Fiol / Schreiner Kastler; Mobility Agency/Zoom VP