Since 2023, the Graz city government has been offering a purchase subsidy for children’s bicycles. All third-graders at Graz elementary schools receive a voucher worth 250 euros for the purchase of a children’s bicycle, accessories or bicycle service. This campaign is unique in Austria. We summarise the results of the evaluation and report on the first bicycle playgrounds in Graz, which opened in June.

Bicycle bonus based on municipal council decision

The aim of the initiative is to make it easier for every child in Graz to own their own bicycle. The idea in the 2021 election programme of the Graz Green Party was followed in February 2022 by the unanimous decision of the local council to focus on children and young people for a period of five years. The decision was followed by the development of a concept for the children’s bike bonus with funding guidelines, which was approved by a majority vote in the local council in November 2024. The bonus is being handled by the transport department of Deputy Mayor Judith Schwentner (Green party). After a pilot phase with five schools in 2023, the scheme was extended to 52 schools between November 2024 and February 2025.

Evaluation shows redemption rate of around 60%

The Bicycle bonus campaign was evaluated in summer 2025. In an online survey of all parents and guardians who took advantage of the bonus and collected the voucher envelopes, 699 people responded (48% of 1,454 people reached). The results show a high level of satisfaction among parents: 90% of respondents rated the project as ‘very good’ (63%) or ‘good’ (27%).

58% of respondents had already redeemed the voucher, 81% of whom had purchased a bicycle:

• 70% stated that the voucher had motivated them to buy a bicycle
• For 17%, it was their first bicycle
• For 27%, the amount of €250 was sufficient
• The majority paid over €300 extra.

To date, 2,641 forms have been issued for the bonus, and 1,546 voucher envelopes containing 25 vouchers worth €10 each have been collected. Vouchers worth €276,510 had been redeemed by 30 September 2025, with a total redemption rate of 62.5%.

Bicycle playgrounds as an ideal environment for children

The two bicycle playgrounds, which opened in Graz in June 2025 and were planned by Cycle Competence member verkehrplus in cooperation with Die Radvokat:innen, were also made possible by a decision in April 2024 as part of the above-mentioned municipal council resolution. In Fischeraustraße and Ortweinplatz, the Radvokat:innen concept from Vienna was taken up on behalf of Deputy Mayor Schwentner and further developed for Graz. (Detailed information from the City of Graz here)

Opening of the bicycle playground on Fischeraustraße on 27.06.2025

In Fischeraustraße, a concrete football pitch adjacent to a popular playground was revitalised and turned into a safe practice area for children on bicycles. Elements such as tram tracks, wooden obstacles, markings, pump track elements and the ‘kerb tree’ were installed.

On the left of the picture is the ‘kerb tree’, which can be accessed from all sides with different step heights, and on the right is the slalom course.

Part of the concrete surface was unsealed and redesigned into a comfortable waiting area for parents with a short off-road track for the kids.

A temporary bicycle playground was created on the former car park at Ortweinplatz (photo above). A comprehensive participation process for the redesign of the square is to begin here in the near future.

‘Using bicycles as an everyday means of transport becomes child’s play for these children. Above all, it allows them to expand their own radius of activity independently and safely and explore more of this exciting world,’ emphasises the planning team at verkehrplus (article here).

Subsidies for children’s bicycles again this year

The children’s bicycle bonus will continue in the 2025/26 school year. All third-year pupils at Graz primary schools will continue to receive a voucher worth €250 for the purchase of a children’s bicycle, accessories or bicycle services. All eligible families will be informed by post in January 2026 about the start of the new round.

The voucher is only valid for children’s bicycles, helmets, locks, bicycle servicing and accessories. Twenty-five bicycle shops in Graz are participating in the campaign and redeeming the vouchers, from Banana Bikes to Zweirad Neubauer.

All information about the children’s bike bonus: graz.at | Study by the City of Graz, Department of Transport Planning: download here

Further information from the City of Graz:

Information page on bike playgrounds
BiciBus service point
School road information

Photos: City of Graz, achtzigzehn, verkehrplus, Fischer