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The Regional Transport and Economic Community GU-South (founded in 2001; consisting of the municipalities Fernitz-Mellach, Hart bei Graz, Hausmannstätten, Gössendorf, Raaba-Grambach and Vasoldsberg; total population approx. 29,500) supports the switch to sustainable forms of mobility through various initiatives and projects. Given the ever-increasing volume of traffic in the region, the aim is now to work more intensively on upgrading everyday cycling. The creation of a cross-community cycling concept and the further expansion of the cycling infrastructure was therefore unanimously agreed by all the mayors of the member municipalities.

On 23.10.2019, the kick-off event for this took place in Raaba-Grambach, to which representatives of the Province of Styria and the City of Graz, the mayors and cycling officers of the municipalities as well as PLANUM employees arrived – big ice even with bicycles. There was widespread agreement on the need for cross-community networking of bike paths. Provincial Transport Councillor Anton Lang: “Since cycle paths should not end at place name signs, cooperation is necessary here. When you talk about climate protection, you also have to talk about mobility. It often takes political courage to implement something, even if it is an unpopular decision at the moment.”

In cooperation with the Province of Styria, the City of Graz and the Construction District Management Styrian Central Region, the joint cycling concept GU-South will be developed in the coming months based on the cycling strategy Styria, the “Cycling Network Study Styrian Core Agglomeration”.

Currently, the population of GU-South is being surveyed about their mobility habits (link to the online survey).

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On 20.09.2019 at 9:00 the kick-off for the cycling concept core area Voitsberg took place.

Building on the regional mobility plan of the Voitsberg subregion from 2016, the Voitsberg Regional Development Association (municipality of Bärnbach, municipality of Köflach, municipality of Voitsberg, municipality of Rosental an der Kainach and market municipality of Maria Lankowitz) in cooperation with the Province of Styria (Department 16 Transport and Provincial Structural Engineering) has decided to intensify the development of cycling and to draw up a cycling concept as a basis for future development.

Based on the cycling strategy Styria, as well as a potential analysis for the weekday cycling traffic in the planning area, the team of the planning office Planum will develop a proposal for a safe, attractive, coherent and high-quality cycling infrastructure (=future target network, bicycle parking facilities, guidance system) together with the municipalities and the Office of the Provincial Government of Styria (Department 16). Based on this, a rapid implementation of the necessary measures is to be carried out and thus an increase in the share of bicycle traffic is to be achieved. Since a good bicycle infrastructure is not the sole key to success, the switch to bicycles is to be additionally strengthened through awareness raising, campaigns and company-specific mobility management. Regionally coordinated action planning is also being carried out for this purpose.

There are many reasons to ride a bike. In addition to the individual benefits for one’s own health, the active contribution to climate protection and the attractiveness and revitalization of local centers are important building blocks for future-oriented mobility, especially in this day and age.

This is also the view of Anton Lang, the Styrian Transport Provincial Councillor. “With our ‘Cycling Strategy 2030’ and the ‘Go – Radmobil Steiermark’ initiative, we are working hard to ensure that everyday cycling in our province continues to be expanded step by step. The white-green communities are a strong partner here. After all, cycling is booming, not least because of the sharp increase in e-bikes. I am therefore very pleased that the core area municipalities in Voitsberg, together with the provincial transport department, are setting sustainable accents in the interests of the citizens in matters of cycling,” says Lang.

The first steps were taken during the kick-off event. By arriving at the event location by bicycle or public transport, first impressions were gathered right away and suggestions for the future bicycle traffic system were taken up.

Reports to read and review:
Feature in ORF-tvThek (starts at 8:30)
Kleine Zeitung from 21.09.2019
The week of 20.09.2019