The 16th Austrian Cycling Summit in Saalfelden was held under the motto “Rad.Region.Bewegen.” from 3 to 4 June 2025 was the center of the domestic cycling world, with exciting lectures, discussions and excursions for 300 participants. Numerous Cycle Competence members contributed their expertise. Here is an overview of the program.

Conference under the patronage of the Minister of Mobility

The high-caliber conference with international participation took place in cooperation with the municipality of Saalfelden, the Saalfelden Leogang region, the province of Salzburg and the Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure as part of the klimaaktiv mobil climate protection initiative. “Cycling is not only an environmentally friendly and healthy mobility solution, but also an important factor for the sustainable development of our cities and regions. The 16th Austrian Cycling Summit in Saalfelden will be a great opportunity to present innovative approaches to promoting cycling. Our aim is to further expand the infrastructure and make the switch to cycling attractive for even more people,” confirmed Mobility Minister Peter Hanke in the run-up to the event.

Program contributions from Cycle Competence members

The 16th Austrian Cycling Summit focused on the connection between leisure and everyday cycling. The aim is to exploit synergies and develop innovative mobility concepts that will strengthen cycling in the long term. In rural regions in particular, the bicycle offers great potential for making short everyday journeys more sustainable and driving forward the mobility transition. A first highlight was the opening keynote speech by Meredith Glaser, expert at the Urban Cycling Institute of the University of Amsterdam. Federal Cycling Coordinator Martin Eder (BMIMI) presented the Cycling Master Plan 2030.

Meredith Glaser during her keynote speech with a visualization of the green, climate-resilient road of the near future.

Highlights from the Cycling Summit program

The extensive program included the following presentations by our members, with links to the relevant articles on our website:

Tuesday, 3 June

• Austria-wide cycle destination network VISION: Florian Kratochwil, con.sens mobilitätsdesign > our article
• Parking space analysis and assessment of bicycle parking facilities using the example of Vienna’s Neubau district: Olivia Kantner, komobile > our article
• Greater safety for cyclists in confined road conditions – findings and recommendations for action from the RADBEST study: Sven Leitinger, Salzburg Research, and Michael Szeiler, con.sens > our article
• Interreg project KoloRad – Slovenian-Austrian networking: Heidi Schmitt and Christoph Zettinig, Radlobby
• Cycling at the University of Salzburg: Simon Obenaus, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg

Tuesday also saw the exciting round table discussion on cycling research with Cycle Competence member Martin Loidl, PLUS University of Salzburg, as moderator. Pictured here with Katharina Gangl (IHS), Stefan Bendiks (Artgineering) and Ursula Witzmann (UWM). The session was co-moderated by Tadej Brezina (TU Vienna).

Wednesday, 4 June

• Bikeability from the evaluation of individual segments to routing applications: Robin Wendel, Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg, Department of Geoinformatics
• Regional cycling planning with efficient network design: Christian Werner, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg
• Workshop ‘Digitisation of integrated cycling planning: methods, data and tools’ with Martin Loidl, University of Salzburg Department of Geoinformatics – Mobility Lab

An important contribution on Wednesday was the panel discussion “Job bike instead of company car” with Cycle Competence members Helmut Schleich, Bikeleasing-Service Austria; Karin Stopa, JobRad Austria; Oliver Hellmons, Lease a Bike Austria; Markus Schuster, Herry Consult > our article

• The active way to school as a secret weapon against lack of exercise: Gerlinde Ecker and Brigitte Drabeck, Klimabündnis Salzburg
• School mobility management: Tina Wurm, Mobilitätszentrale Burgenland
• Goals, networks, measures – how municipalities can promote cycling quickly, cheaply and in a targeted manner: Mark Richter, con.sens mobilitätsdesign
• Cycle routes as cycle networks for rural areas: Christine Zopf-Renner, Mobility Center Burgenland and Roland Romano, Radlobby >our article

Christine Zopf-Renner and Roland Romano at the presentation on cycle lanes in rural areas.

• Radland GmbH – Operator of the nextbike rental system in Lower Austria: Thomas Zimmermann, Radland Niederösterreich
• Familienflitzer – Transport bike sharing as an opportunity for tourism: Andreas Zobl, Familienflitzer, radverteiler > our article
• Begegnungszone Dornbirn – In einem Jahr vom Projektbeginn zur Eröffnung: David Hacker, komobile
• The vital road index for Austria. How healthy are our roads: Andrea Weninger, Rosinak & Partner and Thomas Langthaler, Verracon > Project report
• Shift potential of cycling facilities: the VERA guide: Niklas Scheffer, Herry Consult > our article
• Alles radlbar – shopping regionally: Eliza Brunmayr and Felicitas Egger, Klimabündnis OÖ

Supporting programme

All participants and the local population were cordially invited to experience Saalfelden during a rich supporting program with a bike parade, concert and test rides with special bikes. Store windows decorated especially for the cycling summit and “Blooming Streets” designed by schoolchildren provided surprises. Prior to the bike parade, Cycle Competence hosted a get-together in front of the Congress House, where we toasted our new Cycle Competence Academy on the occasion of Bike Day.

The view of the surrounding peaks from the Cycling Summit conference center. A very successful event in an alpine setting, organized with dedication by klimaaktiv mobil. We look forward to 2026, when cycling and walking will come together for a joint conference on active mobility!

Photos: Cycle Competence| You can find the complete program here: radgipfel2025.at