Styrian Strategy for Cycling How Strategic Policy Papers Are Coming Alive Gudrun Uranitsch, M.Ed. FGM – Austrian Mobility Research ECOMM th of June 2008, London

Overview Bicycle history and strategy in Styria Development of the strategic paper Content: Strategic and operational part Examples of measures Recommendations and results

Styria 1 of 9 Austrian provinces in the south east of Austria 17 regional cities with to inhabitants CapitalGraz ( inhabitants, city of cyclists) Inhabitants1.2 Million people Area16.391,93 km² Northern partAlps Southern partVineyards NeighboursSlovenia, Hungaria

Bicycle History 1989 Styrian government decided to increase the cycling share Focus leisure time and touristic cycling activities Investments 75m Euro in bicycle network infrastructure Network 2440km on 3 main rivers

Bicycle Strategies 2006 National government edited the Austrian Master Plan Cycling 2007 Styrian government set a focus: Bicycle as an every day means of transport First step BYPAD: to get an overview about cycling activities in a systematic way Recommendation Renew your regional cycling concept! (1989)

Methodology of the Development of the Styrian Strategy for Cycling 1.Participation 2. Best practices and national strategic papers from other European countries (Masterplan Fiets, Nationaler Radverkehrsplan, Danish National Cycling Strategy…) 3. The content of the Austrian Masterplan as an orientation guide 4. Cycling with specific Styrian focuses

Aims and goals 1. Description of quantifiable goals Increase the modal share of 6% to 12% within the next 4 years 2. Help and information for 542 municipalities (from 200 to inhabitants) -Present good practises, check lists, overviews -Measures for implementation (responsibilities) -Contact persons

Workshops to involve all stakeholders - officials from the mobility department (officials and political office) -bicycle coordinator of the city of Graz, -representatives of Styrian companies, -socio economic companies dealing with bicycles, -mayors of municipalities, -Styrian Tourism company, -Styrian transport company, -cycling initiative ARGUS -project coordinator: FGM

Strategic approach 3 equal columns with the same weight improving the bicycle policy in Styria Focus Every Day Cycling

Operational Part: 12 Topics & 56 Measures

Responsibilities for implementation Region and municipality jointly assume responsibility for implementation of measure Region assumes responsibility for implementation of measure Municipality assumes responsibility for implementation of measure M R RM * Current measure Measure done New measure Status of measures

Results: Infrastructure – Flowing Traffic (Topic 1) Definition of Quality Standards for Main Cycling Routes (Graz)

Results: Awareness Raising & Information (Topic 4) International Bicycle Conference Target Group: Municipalities; 300 Participants

Results: Awareness Raising & Information (Topic 4) Website for Cyclists

Results: Awareness Raising & Information (Topic 4) Website for Children

Results: Mobility Management & Cycling (Topic 7) Bike to Work 189 Companies with participants Facilities for the Styrian Government Staff bicycles & bicycle storage facilities

Results: Regional & National Cycling Coordination (Topic 8) Coordination between regional & national Strategies Contact person (bicycle coordinator) in the Municipality desired Styrian Bicycle Platform is established

Results: Research & Pilot Projects (Topic 11) New Signing Excursion to Bolzano (Corporate Design in Cycling) Workshops with Experts (NRW)

Results: Quality Assurance & Evaluation (Topic 12) Face to face interviews with 1634 cyclists in 19 municipalities

Topics Emotions & FeelingsSafety & Comfort Image in Media Infrastructure & Services

Results Cycling is fun (97%) Cyclists feel safe and respected (73%) Cycling is more comfortable than PT (85%)

Image in Media The image of cyclist conveyed by newpapers is in need of improvement

Résumé -Development: Participation (Bottom up Approach) -3 column system (Top down Approach) -Strategic and operational approach (including a liable working programme) -Largest face-to-face-interviews in Austria with cyclists about their well being in traffic -Pilot- and Model projects including Evaluation -BYPAD as a quality management system for cities & towns -1.5% increased share of cyclists in the region of Styria in the first year (starting with a modal share of 6%)

Thank you for your attention.