Hello
everybody!
My
apologies, but due to illness and corresponding shortages in my work I am quite
late with my contributions.
My Name is
Günther Illek and I am working for FGM-AMOR (Austrian mobility Research) in
Graz. In my job I am nearly exclusively working on a variety of someteimes very
different bicycle traffic projects, normally focussing on awareness raising,
knowledge transfer (e.g. via publications for the Austrian Ministry of Traffic),
sign posting projects and different studies on traffic safety or bicycle
traffic related innovations.
Thanks to
this various tasks, I am happy to be quite aware of the actual trends within
Austria.
Facts about
the City of Graz:
Population:
~280.000 inhabitants
Modal Split
in %(2013):
- ·
Public
Transport: 19,8
- ·
Car:
37,5
- ·
Car
Passenger:9,3
- ·
Bicycle:
14,5
- ·
Walking:
19,9
In general,
the topography of the city of Graz is rather flat. Still, there are traffic
narrows occurring on the main (motorized) traffic axes, often due to the fact
that surrounding hills at the outskirts of the city minimise the possibilities for
further infrastructure. So congestion is a problem in the city of Graz, but by
far our main problem is particulate matter! The City of Graz regularly exceeds the
European limits, endangering the health of its inhabitants and provoking fines from
the European Parliament soon. Sadly it
seems that the second argument – the fines- is the most driving argument for
actions.
One measure
the City wants to take to reduce congestion and air pollution is the promotion
of cycling. The City of Graz already was Austria’s Cycling Capital for many
years, but even though we had a strong bicycle focus from 2007 to 2011 (maybe
2012, will check that later) the amount of car trips in the modal split was
rising 1,8%, whereas cycling fell from
16,1 to 14,5, with walking and PT being more or less stagnant in overall.
This may be
based on the new inhabitants coming from rural areas with a car oriented
behaviour, but I think it is corresponding to a lack of Push & Pull –approach
and hence a lack of measures making car driving unattractive.
Cycling is
seen as a relevant means of transport, but normally the individual motorized
traffic has a higher priority in the cities strategic plannings. Walking is
more or less “that what remains”, apart from the city of Graz is very eager and
competent on barrier-free constructions.
On the
existing bicycle traffic networks, there are parts where you have a significant
speed reduction due to too many cyclists on the bicycle path.