Mobility Observatory Austria: Better data enables sustainable cycling promotion
The KOMOA concept study for a Mobility Observatory Austria shows how systemic approaches using a variety of data can help with the current challenges of transportation planning. How can it meet mobility needs while minimizing the negative ecological, social and economic effects of transport? The two Cycle Competence members, the University of Salzburg and Salzburg Research, have been researching [...]
Cycling summit with 10th anniversary of Cycle Competence
The Cycle Competence Austria platform is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year! Founded in 2014 by a group of innovative players in the cycling sector, our platform now has around 30 member companies and supporting members. Knowledge transfer and networking in the service of improving the quality of Austrian cycling is our mission statement, and international activities as the [...]
Bike sales figures 2023: Boom in folding bikes, transport bikes, e-bikes
The 2023 bike sales figures are available and confirm known trends and the effectiveness of targeted bike purchase promotions and company bike models: More than a 50% share of e-bikes for the first time, doubling of folding bike sales, strong growth in e-transport bikes. The Austrian Association of Sporting Goods Manufacturers and Retailers (VSSÖ) presented these results under the [...]
European Review: EU Cycling Declaration and study results from Paris to London
On April 3, 2024, the "European Declaration on Cycling" was formally signed at a meeting of EU transport ministers, the European Council, the Commission and the Parliament. This milestone in the supranational commitment to cycling as a fully-fledged means of transport and to key points for improving cycling is a sign that the important levers for promoting cycling are [...]
Evaluation of Austria’s first bicycle zone
An experiment is taking place in the Styrian municipality of Fernitz-Mellach. Austria's first bicycle zone is being tested and comprehensively evaluated here for 12 months. The difference to the German regulation, where bicycle zones have been in place since 2020: The term does not yet legally exist in Austria. The pilot test is being planned and monitored by Cycle [...]
The new cycle-path construction program in Vienna
Since 2021, the City of Vienna has been stepping up the expansion of cycling infrastructure with increased funding from the klimaaktiv mobil program of the Ministry of Climate Protection. The new construction program was published at the end of March 2024. Important cycling axes and gaps in the main cycling network are being tackled and flagship projects such as [...]
Bike wash and bike decks, new members and new bikes
We are happy to welcome four new innovative members to the Radkompetenz circle this year! The internationally positioned mechanical engineering group WINTERSTEIGER offers manual and automatic bike cleaning stations, the young Salzburg-based company Velovio develops bike parking systems that they would also use themselves. The AIT Austrian Institute of Technology has developed a sensor bike and Mobiltätszentrale Burgenland is [...]
Cargo bike sharing has arrived in small towns
The boom in e-cargo bikes is reflected in sales figures and on urban roads. In rural areas, the cargo bike still has a hard time, as distances are too long and roads are too unsafe for cyclists. However, new findings from Bavaria and Austria show that even small towns are already successfully relying on cargobikes as transportation in the sharing [...]
Next Generation Nighttrain: Biketransport in the new ÖBB Nightjet
The Austrian Federal Railway (ÖBB) is known for its leading role in European overnight train travel. With the new Nightjet trains expected to operate from December, they aim to launch what they call a ‘flagship service’. We tested the redesigned bike transport options with Radlobby Österreich, a member of Cycle Competence Austria, in the ÖBB depot. Which improvements have been [...]
Implementation of “right turn on red”: the Austrian criteria
Since the change of the Austrian road code in 2022, it has been possible to allow cyclists to turn right or ride straight on at red lights at certain selected junctions. This is marked by additional signage with a green arrow. So far, 29 such signs have been implemented and Vienna has announced a ‘green arrow offensive’ of 150 planned [...]