In many places, guideline-compliant wide cycle lanes are not possible due to the width of the roads. However, due to a lack of suitable alternative routes, these sections of road remain part of the cycle network and require improved safety for cyclists. Solutions to this problem are currently being tested and researched in the ‘Reallabor Nußdorferstraße’ and in the ‘MZSFreiland’ research project by Salzburg Research and con.sens mobilitätsdesign. The first markings were applied in mid-May!

A key finding from the RADBEST research project, which we reported on here, is that road infrastructure must ‘speak more clearly’ in order to positively influence the behaviour of motor vehicle drivers. Visible and clearly understandable markings such as sharrows, large bicycle pictograms or wide multi-purpose lanes with a narrow central carriageway help to ensure that more lateral distance is maintained from cyclists. This result is now being tested in an initial trial in the city of Salzburg.

Nußdorferstraße real-world laboratory: multi-purpose lanes and sharrows

With the Nußdorferstraße real-world laboratory, the urban mobility laboratory zukunftswege.at is now working in cooperation with Salzburg Research and con.sens mobilitätsdesign on behalf of the city and state of Salzburg to test how different road markings affect the overtaking distance between motor vehicles and cyclists. The aim is to test the bicycle traffic routing recommended in the RADBEST project on selected sections in practice. The Holoscene Bike research bicycle is being used to collect data on how different markings affect the overtaking behaviour of motor vehicle drivers.

Cycle Competence member con.sens is responsible for the traffic planning concept and is supporting the implementation of the real-world laboratory. The results will provide a scientifically sound basis for the planning department of the city of Salzburg to tailor future cycling measures to the needs of traffic safety. The results are scheduled to be published in November 2025.

Applying the new markings for the Nußdorferstraße real-world laboratory (photo: Salzburg Research/wildbild/Herbert Rohrer)

Test operation in two sections and phases

Along Nußdorferstraße, the cycle routes recommended in the RADBEST project are to be tested on the sections between the Bräuhausstraße intersection and the Moosstraße roundabout up to the intersection with Leopoldskronstraße: 2 m wide multi-purpose lanes with cycle pictograms, sharrows and large red markings. Nußdorferstraße will be divided into two test sections: Section 1 extends from the Bräuhausstraße intersection to the Moosstraße roundabout, and Section 2 extends from the Moosstraße roundabout to the intersection with Leopoldskronstraße.

Section 1: Road markings with multi-purpose lanes

Between Moosstraße and Bräuhausstraße, multi-purpose lanes 2 metres wide with bicycle pictograms will be installed for the first test phase starting in May 2025. A 3-metre-wide central lane will remain in the middle of the road. The second test phase, starting in August 2025, will add red block markings to the multi-purpose lanes and bicycle pictograms already in place.

Section 2: Road markings with pictograms and sharrows

In the first phase in May 2025, the effect of large bicycle pictograms and so-called sharrows on road safety will be tested. These will be applied to the road surface at intervals of approximately 25 metres. Here too, red block markings will supplement the bicycle pictograms and sharrows already in place from August 2025.

Based on the international concept of the ‘2 minus 1 road’

With wide multi-purpose lanes and a narrow central carriageway, the concept is reminiscent of the so-called ‘2 minus 1 road’ lane layout, which is already in use in the Benelux countries and parts of Scandinavia. The road markings in Salzburg are intended to signal to road users that the area for cyclists extends 2 metres from the edge of the road towards the centre of the carriageway. Motor vehicles should generally share this area, but when overtaking, they should move far enough to the left to ensure safe overtaking.

The test markings do not really mean any change for motorists: without oncoming traffic, cyclists can be overtaken as before, but when there is oncoming traffic, it is too narrow to overtake and cars must remain behind. The markings are intended to increase road safety for cyclists – namely, greater distances when overtaking and less risky overtaking manoeuvres.

More information on this can be found at zukunftswege.at

MZSFreiland: Rethinking cycle traffic management on rural roads

The MZSFreiland research project – Optimisation of Cycling Infrastructure, led by Salzburg Research in cooperation with con.sens verkehrsplanung and the Austrian Road Safety Board (KfV), is investigating how cycling on rural roads can be made safe and efficient. Unlike the urban real-world laboratory on Nußdorferstraße, the focus here is on rural areas where structurally separated cycle paths are often difficult to implement as a standard solution – for example, due to topographical conditions or limited space at the side of the road. The study is therefore testing the use of multi-purpose lanes with a narrow central carriageway as an alternative solution. In this project, too, the objective safety of this cycle route is being analysed with the help of the Holoscene Bike, which we presented here.

Data recording with the Holoscene Bike in surrounding communities, © Salzburg Research

Although international studies have already proven the success of such ‘2 minus 1 roads’ concepts for areas between residential areas, their use in Austria is currently still limited: According to the guidelines and regulations for road construction (RVS) 03.02.13, multi-purpose lanes with a reduced centre lane (less than 4.5 metres wide) may only be used at a maximum permissible speed of 30 km/h. This means that their use on open roads is currently not permitted.

MZSFreiland aims to use empirical results to derive appropriate application limits, implementation potential, and advantages and disadvantages of multi-purpose lanes with reduced centre lanes on rural roads in Austria. Based on this, recommendations for action regarding their use or non-use will be formulated, along with proposals for changes to guidelines and regulations in Austria.

Contact for enquiries

Salzburg Research, Cornelia Zankl, cornelia.zankl@salzburgresearch.at

Images: Salzburg Research/Konrad Fersterer, Boréal Bikes, Salzburg Research/wildbild/Herbert Rohrer, Zukunftswege