The importance of parking space surveys as a planning tool is demonstrated by the parking space surveys for bicycles and motor vehicles in Vienna’s Neubau district conducted by Cycle Competence member komobile. Vienna’s 7th district has clearly changed in recent years in favour of active mobility and quality of life. But what does the factual analysis say? If this is carried out over a longer period of time, the targeted expansion of bicycle racks can be planned. Necessary focal points at important source and destination points can thus be identified.

In Vienna’s Neubau district, extensive traffic calming measures and redesigns involving tree planting have been implemented. These include the creation of shared spaces, pedestrian zones and residential streets, as well as temporary facilities such as outdoor cafés and ‘Grätzloase’ parklets. Such measures have an impact on the everyday behaviour of all road users and promote active mobility. Support for cycling includes not only safe routes, but also a sufficient and comprehensive range of bicycle parking spaces and the provision of bike-sharing schemes such as Wien Mobil bikes.

Vienna Mobil station in front of the Museumsquartier in Vienna’s Neubau district.

The survey’s role model effect

The showcase project in Vienna demonstrates the insights that can be gained from an evidence-based approach. The parking space survey is an important planning tool and serves for targeted monitoring and impact assessment. It can be carried out on a small scale in specific areas or cover larger areas such as municipalities and districts. In this way, a dense and precise network of bicycle parking spaces can be provided to meet demand in terms of supply planning.

Methodology proven over 15 years

A sound database is required to establish a basis for the existing level of provision and the need for expansion of bicycle parking spaces. Since 2009, komobile has been conducting regular surveys of parking spaces for bicycles and motor vehicles on behalf of the Neubau district administration (BV 7) at regular intervals (2012, 2019, 2024). This allows the development and location of parking spaces in the district to be mapped over a longer period of time. As part of these surveys, bicycle parking spaces in public spaces and car parking spaces in public spaces, in public and private garages and on private land are surveyed and summarised. The parking spaces are categorised according to location, use and restrictions.

Bicycle parking is divided into bicycle racks in public spaces (numbers in orange on the map), bike sharing (BS), scooter parking spaces (ES) and parking spaces for cargo bikes (numbers with *). Car parking spaces are categorised according to public (building block edges) and private spaces (driveways) and additionally into restricted uses (delivery zones, resident parking, e-charging points, disabled parking spaces, car sharing, etc.) and temporary uses (seasonal or year-round outdoor dining areas, parklets, construction sites, temporary loading zones, etc.).

How complex the parking space analysis is becomes evident in this excerpt from the detailed map. (Detailed representation of the 2024 parking space survey, source: komobile)

The result shows 145% more bike racks

The parking space analysis makes an important contribution to the provision of data and assessments. Based on this data, developments in the level of expansion and in parking demand, parking deficits or surpluses are identified. It also reflects current changes and trends regarding vehicle typologies (e.g. cargo bikes, sharing services, etc.) and categories of parking space management (e.g. residential parking, loading zones, etc.).

Number of bicycle parking spaces by district 2024 (source: komobile)

Comparison between 2024 and 2019 of bicycle parking spaces in public areas by district (source: komobile)

The long-term development of bicycle parking spaces over the period:

• from 2009 with 1,320 to 2012 with 1,762 – an increase of 442 parking spaces (+33.4%)
• from 2012 with 1,762 to 2019 with 2,338 – an increase of 576 parking spaces (+32.7%)
• from 2019 with 2,338 to 2024 with 3,240 – an increase of 902 parking spaces (+38.6%)

In comparison, it becomes evident that during the survey period from 2009 to 2024, the total number of bicycle parking spaces in public areas in Vienna Neubau increased by +145% to 3,240 bike racks. During the same period, the population grew by 5% (32,212 inhabitants as of 2022).

Fig. 4 Development of the number of bicycle parking facilities from 2009 to 2024 (source: komobile)

Photos: ÖBB/Scheiblecker, komobile

Text: Olivia Kantner, komobile