“Styrian Strategy for Cycling” How Strategic Policy Papers Are Coming Alive

Gudrun Uranitsch, M.Ed.FGM – Austrian Mobility ResearchECOMM 20085th 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 Austria17 regional cities with 5.000 to 10.000 inhabitants

Capital Graz (250.000 inhabitants, “city of cyclists”)Inhabitants 1.2 Million peopleArea 16.391,93 km² Northern part AlpsSouthern part VineyardsNeighbours Slovenia, Hungaria

Bicycle History

1989Styrian government decided to increase the cycling share

Focusleisure time and touristic cycling activities

Investments75m Euro in bicycle network infrastructure

Network2440km on 3 main rivers

Bicycle Strategies

2006National government edited the Austrian Master Plan Cycling

2007Styrian government set a focus: “Bicycle as an every day means of transport”

First stepBYPAD: to get an overview about cycling activities in a systematic way

RecommendationRenew your regional cycling concept! (1989)

Methodology of the Developmentof 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 goalsIncrease the modal share of 6% to 12% within the next 4 years

2. Help and information for 542 municipalities(from 200 to 250.000 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 columnswith the same weight improving the bicycle policy in Styria

FocusEvery 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 ConferenceTarget Group: Municipalities; 300 Participants

Results:Awareness Raising & Information (Topic 4)

Website for Cyclistswww.radland.steiermark.at

Results:Awareness Raising & Information (Topic 4)

Website for Childrenwww.ritaundronnyroller.at

Results:Mobility Management & Cycling (Topic 7)

Bike to Work189 Companies with 3.800 participants

Facilities for the Styrian GovernmentStaff 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 MediaInfrastructure & 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.