Cycle Competence trip: German Cycling Academy visits Vienna

Training, networking and exchange of experience take a central role in promoting cycling. The Cycling Academy (“Fahrradakademie”) of the German Institute of Urban Affairs (Difu) has been pursuing these strategies since 2007 and once a year it is visiting a region that plays a leading role in promoting cycling traffic. In 2016 it was Copenhagen – now it is Vienna’s turn. The study trip is organized by Cycle Competence Austria. The platform also offers bespoke best practice trips for administrations, companies and institutions interested in the Austrian approach to increasing cycle traffic. (more…)

Fresh Facts: Cars as safety hazard, bicycles as casualties

Traffic accidents involving cyclists analysed following Radlobby-inquiry to BMVIT and KfV. In April 2017, a list of questions compiled by Cycle Competence member Radlobby Austria sent to the Austrian traffic ministry BMVIT revealed new facts on cycle traffic and hazardous situations: The safety hazard for cyclists definitely is the car, as shown by the statistics supplied by Statistics Austria and analysed by the KfV (Kuratorium für Verkehrssicherheit, a non-profit research organization): In three out of four traffic accidents with injured cyclists involving another vehicle or person car drivers caused the accident. (more…)

Research project “GISMO”: Gaining health effects through active commuting

The positive health effects of physical activity are commonly well known. However, the potential of active commuting for health prevention is rarely used.  A recently launched research project, “GISMO – Geographical Information Support for Healthy Mobility”, seeks to provide evidence for a comprehensive corporate mobility management, which promotes the daily commute as an opportunity for increasing the amount of physical exercise through active mobility. (more…)

Landmark court decision for more cycling safety

A welcome court decision increases cycling safety: A cyclist’s health can be a matter of the correct distance to parking cars in case of abruptly opening car doors.  Nevertheless keeping a safe distance is seen by car drivers and in some cases even the police as being against the rules. Now CycleCompetence member, lawyer Dr. Johannes Pepelnik, has clarified the allowed anti-dooring-distance to parking cars. The Vienna administrative court, the “Verwaltungsgericht” (VWG), has ruled 1.2m to 1.8m distance to parking cars are appropriate.

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“KinderRadSpaß” 2016: Cycle competence and fun for 1,500 children

The “KinderRadSpaß” (literally “ChildrenCycleFun”) workshops organised by Cycle Competence member Radlobby support children’s love for activity and convey safe conduct in traffic, competence in riding a bike and cycling techniques. In Vienna, year-to-date already over 1,500 children have taken part in the “KinderRadSpaß” program. (more…)

Survey shows the potential to convince people to cycle

With the right infrastructure but even more importantly with bespoke information through the right media, over 50% of the Austrian population could relatively easily be moved to use bicycles (more). This was shown in the project “pro:motion” sponsored by the Austrian transport ministry (bmvit) and the research promotion agency (FFG). Among the supporters are the Cycle Competence members AIT and Herry. (more…)

THE CYCLECOMPETENCE PRIZE DRAW: WIN A RAINCOMBI!

Three times a year the newsletter of the “CycleCompetence Austria” (Radkompetenz Österreich) offers up-to-date information, brand new studies and practical tips for improving cycle traffic. This way we want to reach as many readers all over Europe as possible. This time there is the chance to win a Raincombi overall! Tell your friends and colleagues about our newsletter! (more…)

The benefits are twice as high as the costs

The cycle traffic planning bureau komobile Gmunden, member of Cycle Competence, was commissioned by the city of Salzburg to conduct an assessment of the potential for an upgrade to the premium cycle route Salzburg-Freilassing. For the first time in Austria, a cost-benefit analysis was applied based on the German standardised evaluation and the Austrian guidelines and regulations for the road sector (RVS) respectively. The result: investments in cycle traffic are highly profitable for the national economy – the benefits are twice as high as the costs. (more…)

Cycling saves time: Study on speeding up cycle traffic

Speed and flexibility are among the greatest strengths of a bicycle. Especially over short distances within a city a bicycle is the fastest mode of transportation. The time benefit is mainly derived from brief access and exit times and a direct routing. For example, allowing cyclists to use one-way streets in both directions  or providing cycle parking directly at an entrance increases the door-to-door speed.

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Gendered Sharrows: Innovative road markings used for the first time

Sharrows are road markings to direct cycle traffic. They aim to make cyclists more visible on the roads. In Mödling in Lower Austria, a new form of road marking is used on the road connecting the train station with the HTL school. The use of these new markings intended to appeal to female cyclists was planned by Cycle Competence member Rosinak & Partner. This innovative use on an important school route is followed-up by an effectiveness study. (more…)

VELLO develops first self-recharging e-folding bike

“It will not be a bicycle for lazy people,” stresses Valentin Vodev, co-founder of the Austrian folding bike producer VELLO. “But if you need it or if you do not want to sweat you can have support.” The member company of CycleCompetence Austria wants to bring the first self-recharging folding bike onto the market using a crowd funding campaign via the platform Kickstarter. (more…)

Trailblazing cycling map and quality criteria in Vorarlberg and Salzburg

Current developments in the two Austrian model cycling states Vorarlberg and Salzburg prove impressively what it takes to improve the framework conditions for cycling traffic: Modern information systems and high-quality infrastructure. CycleCompetence member Z_GIS, the Interfaculty Department of Geoinformatics (University of Salzburg), has developed a comprehensive information portal wit the so-called “Radlkarte”. Vorarlberg has compiled an exemplary accessibility model for every-day cycling traffic.

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New App to reserve safe bicycle parking

Comfortable cycle parking was given a sounding name by CycleCompetence member Innovametall: SAFETYDOCK®.  Because SAFETYDOCK® stands for theft-proof, sheltered (e-)bike parking, charging and rent. With the straightforward handling of SAFETYDOCK® a uniqe infrastructure offer was created which will soon be made even more user-friendly with a new smartphone app.
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Innovative reward system for cycling

Cycling should be rewarded, CycleCompetence members Bike Citizens and FGM are convinced and therefore they started the Bike Benefit Program. It is being tested as part of a feasibility study of the European Space Agency (ESA). The first test phase runs from 23 May to 10 July 2016 in Vienna, Graz and Bremen. As additional incentive to take the bicycle participants can cycle to earn vouchers and discounts for local shops. (more…)

Cycle Summit in Burgenland with a CycleCompetence concentrate

The 9th Austrian Cycle Summit will be taking place in Burgenland’s capital Eisenstadt on 23 and 24 June 2016. The Cycle Summit aims to give new impulses for cycle traffic in the sector child and youth mobility. It also wants to point out possibilities how to transform the bicycle from tourism traffic to every-day traffic. (more…)

Foto: Peter Provaznik

Study commuting to work: motivation to cycle

Many initiatives around the world are campaigning for an uptake of utilitarian cycling. One of them is the Austrian initiative Radelt zur Arbeit – English: “Bike to Work”. An evaluation study of the Cycle Competence Member AIT – Austrian Institute of Technologies sheds light on the impact of this campaign and provides insights on how a motivating social setting can be an effective tool for changing transportation habits. We offer the study HERE FOR DOWNLOAD. (more…)

Super cycling: Moving fast over long distances

High-level cycling infrastructure currently is in the international spotlight. In all of Europe fast lanes for cyclists with high-quality requirements, claiming a significant share of traffic budgets, are designed. The Viennese planning criteria for long-distance cycling routes have been published. This shows that high quality needs just as high requirements on future use of space over land as well as the necessary willingness to redistribute space in narrow inner cities. (more…)

Positive health effects on children by cycling

Reduced physical activity in their daily lives has negative health effects on children and young people. Their leisure activities are mostly done in a seated position or lying down. Mag. Hans-Christian Miko from the Vienna Medical University offers evidence-based academic studies confirming the efficiency of cycling as remedy. He has compiled his presentation for the cycle traffic sub-committee of the Austrian transport ministry BMVIT.
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Visit Berlin: VELOBerlin, Plebiscite, Bicycle industry

Cycle traffic is omnipresent in the German capital. But the potentials and the needs are just as apparent. The city authorities want to tackle the problem of bicycle parking facilities. First interim results of their bicycle parking strategy were presented at the bicycle fair VELOBerlin in mid-April. More attention was created by the bicycle-plebiscite “ Volksentscheid Fahrrad” which aims to give the city a law on cycle traffic and wants to develop it into a genuine cycling city. (more…)

The CycleCompetence prize draw: Subscribe to our newsletter!

Three times a year the newsletter of the “CycleCompetence Austria” (Radkompetenz Österreich) offers up-to-date information, brand new studies and practical tips for improving cycle traffic. This way we want to reach as many readers all over Europe as possible. Subscribe to our newsletter to have the chance to win vouchers for cycle competent products from Austria in our new annual 2016 prize draw!
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Vademecum for Winter cycling

Cycle Competence Member FGM has compiled a vademecum and guidebook commissioned by the transport ministry (bmvit) – because there is a lot of potential for winter cycling in Austria. (more…)

Bike Citizens, FGM Amor and outer space

European Space Agency (ESA) uses knowledge of CycleCompetence members for study on mobility.

“Space Applications in Support of Future Cities“. This is the theme under which the European Space Agency (ESA) has launched four feasibility studies via its department “Integrated Applications Promotion” (IAP). (more…)

Evaluation shows progress in cycling measures in Austria

Pro-cycling amendments to the legal framework bring a fresh breeze to cycling traffic in Austria: This was verified by CycleCompetence member mobility researcher FGM in its brand-new evaluation of the cycling reform package “Fahrradpaket”. The amendments to traffic regulations StVO in 2013 by act of parliament – cycling roads, encounter zones and optional bike paths – are well received by Austrian municipalities.

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City of Vienna publishes positive sharrow-study

The shared-lane marking “sharrow“ is more and more frequently used all over the world. In Austria it was Radlobby Austria which initiated first implementations of these pictograms in Reutte and Tulln and which translated international studies on this subject. Based on this the city of Vienna started a pilot project with “sharrows” on three roads and had it assessed by the renowned engineering office Knoflacher. This study entitled “Impact of cycling pictograms in road traffic” is now available online in full (in German). It shows very positive results: increased safety in cycling and car traffic because of improved interaction, fewer take-over manoeuvres and cars observe a higher safety distance when taking over. (more…)

News from the Cycling Competence Members

The platform CycleCompetence Austria has 17 member companies and institutions. Here is a brief overview of news from some of the members: The BMLFUW has published a new master plan cycling, AIT presented the CycleTripMap at the research festival in Vienna, HERRY Consult informs about the projects “ACTIV8!” and “e-park&drive”, the e-bike-rental concept by KALOVEO gets more and more popular and the Radlobby Vienna published its guidelines for good cycling infrastructure. (more…)

Trend topic cargo bike: Conference of the European Cycle Logistics Federation (ECLF)

How cargo bikes can pave the way for more liveable cities. This will be presented at the third conference of the European Cycle Logistics Federation in Donostia- San Sebastián from 15 to 17 October. Experts and entrepreneurs from all over Europea will show how cycle logistics fits last-mile deliveries and urban logistics. The conference is accompanied by an exhibition of innovations in the product segment cargo bike.  (more…)

Guidelines for municipalities: 5 steps to a cycling road

The new design tools for cycling traffic created by the amendments to traffic regulations StVO in 2013 offer many cost effective possibilities for municipalities to do their cyclists some good. Based on the evaluation of FGM for the bmvit ministry (ARTICLE HERE) Cycle Competence has put together a brief manual for Austrian communities.
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Bike Citizens app wins Eurobike Award and ODINE subsidy

Cycling through a city the smart way with a telephone: The app “Bikecitizens” – known as “Bike City Guide” until 2014 – is meanwhile providing cyclists navigation aids for 200 cities, simple route planning and the possibility to record covered routes. For this the young Graz-based company now won the Eurobike Award 2015 in the category Concepts & Services, the mobility price of the Austrian traffic association VCÖ and a subsidy approval from the international “Open Data Incubator for Europe” (ODINE), which divided up 650,000 Euros in total among seven selected companies in Europe. Congratulations! (more…)

Red Dot Design Award 2015 for Cycle Competence Member VELLO!

The folding bike VELLO was decorated with the Red Dot Award Product Design 2015! The statement by the jury was: “This folding bike fascinates with sophisticated functionality perfectly adapted to everyday use in urban areas. It captivates users with its well-balanced details and allows intuitive folding to a compact size. Equipped with multiple gears and specially designed magnetic shock absorbers,  (more…)

Cycle Competence: Selection Of The Best And Most Innovative

When the megacity Moscow is now considering bicycles as means of transport, Viennese know-how is behind the master plan on which the new mindset is based. Consumer tests in the US ranked an Austrian children’s bike brand number one. Cyclists in Berlin are navigating the city with an app from Graz on their smartphones. Not only is Austria among the top 7 nations in Europe when it comes to cycling,
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Moscow Bicycle Master Plan by Rosinak & Partner

With more than 14 Mio. inhabitants Moscow is Europe’s largest city. Traffic jams on the roads and in the metro are a daily routine for Moscvites commuting into the City Center. But Moscow is a fast changing city and especially young Moscovites are taking trends up quickly. Therefore it is no surprise that riding a bicycle has become fashionable and trendy. A growth of every day cyclists can be observed in the city center who ride for transport purposes despite extremely hostile conditions. (more…)

Bicycle mobility for the elderly

Demographic change is generally a major challenge for Europe. Especially in the field of mobility we are faced with new tasks and challenges. The safe and widespread use of bicycles even among the elderly can help master some of these tasks. Three members of “Cycle Competence Austria” (“Radkompetenz Österreich”) have come up with solutions and innovative ideas for some of these challenges: (more…)