Many Cycle Competence members are glad to be able to celebrate success at having won the 2022 VCÖ Mobility Award. Especially celebrated was the Radlobby, with their winning project ‘Kidical Mass’ which now takes place in 14 cities Austria-wide. Other prize-winning projects by Cycle Competence members were ‘The City and You’, a mobility program in Vienna, a high-speed cycle route connection in Vorarlberg and the planned redesign of the Promenadenring in St. Pölten to a so-called ‘green loop’.

When cycling kids become a ‘critical mass’

The ‘Kidical Mass’ adopts the form of the international direct-action movement ‘Critical Mass’ in order to increase awareness of the need for child-friendly, safe cycling infrastructure. The project was started by the Viennese Cycle Lobby in 2018. It gives children the chance to enjoy riding on areas of road normally used by motorised traffic and is accompanied by music. In May 2022 there were more than 2500 participants. The five improvements that ‘Kidical Mass’ are campaigning for are child-friendly cycling infrastructure, car-free zones around schools, safer junctions, cycle play-areas and more parking space for emission-free transport such as cargo bikes for transporting children.

The VCÖ wawrd category of ‘child-friendly transport’ was sponsored by one of the founding members of Cycle Competence – woom Children’s Bikes: “We want to inspire as many kids as possible to get cycling. A good bike is a vital element. However, good cycling infrastructure is just as important.” – states woom founder Christian Bezdeka.

High-speed cycling route connection in Vorarlberg and ring-road in St. Pölten

The cycle routes between the regions of Am Kumma and Vorderland in Vorarlberg run along main roads with heavy traffic and many difficult junctions. The office of the Vorarlberg regional government worked together with resident representatives of the region to create a 4.6km long, high-speed cycle route connection which also includes a 180m long cycle tunnel. We already reported on this, Vorarlberg’s first tunnel open exclusively to bicycles, here. Cycle Competence members Rosinak & Partner oversaw the planning process.

Rosinek & Partner were also involved in an award-winning project in Lower Austria which aims to transform the 2.3km long ring-road around the old town in St-Pölten, which is currently host to heavy motor traffic, into a ‘green loop’ which will reduce car traffic and improve the infrastructure for cycling and walking. There are also plans for green spaces to be included in the road redesign to make it a pleasant space to spend more time. This will transform the route into a ‘promenade’ which invites visitors to wander and relax. The local population also played a large role in the planning process.

Mobility education for Viennese school children

Cycle Competence member Mobilitätsagentur Wien (Vienna Mobility Agency) created a free education program called ‘The City and You. Discover Vienna in every step’ which has been running in schools since 2019. It aims to both tackle the lack of physical activity in children and reduce ‘parent taxis’ by increasing independence. As part of the nationwide cycle offensive, 1000 cycle courses, as well as a variety of other actives, were financed and organised by Klimaaktiv Mobil, an initiative of the Ministry for Climate Protection.

The award-winning project helps teachers to create engaging, interactive lessons to most effectively communicate transport and mobility education. All of the activities included in the mobility boxes delivered to primary schools are free and include exciting lesson ideas, interactive elements, a stamp and a poster for the classroom.

Overall winner Julius Blum GmbH provides 2000 work bikes

The overall winner of the VCÖ Mobility Award was Julius Blum GmbH from Vorarlbberg for the extensive implementation of their mobility concept. The goal was to raise the mobility percentage of work-related journeys either by bike, on foot, by bus or by train from 38 to 60 percent across eight sites with a total of 7000 employees. The new transport concept was introduced in October 2021. The success of the project has already become clear: 420 employees now own the Klimaticket for Vorarlberg and use it for their commute instead of the car and 2000 employees own a company bike, the employer contribution of which is higher if it is used year-round instead of a parking space.

Fotos: woom/Vratny, VCÖ, Blum GmbH