Yesterday they went on a tour along Steyr’s main cycle routes with Gerhard Fischer, chairman of the Radlobby Oberösterreich. Aim: Identify problem areas and develop suggestions for improvement. Because the advantages of switching to cycling are obvious given the sharp rise in fuel prices: cycling saves a lot of money and improves physical and mental fitness.
He knows Steyr, but as someone unfamiliar with the area, he always found it difficult not to lose his bearings by bike, says Fischer: “I wouldn’t have found a safe north-south crossing of the city.” However, the new signage with near and far destinations has improved some things. “It must be self-explanatory for cyclists where and how they are allowed to ride,” says Fischer. “Cycle paths must be suitable for children and seniors, and above all they must be safe.” And there must be no detours, the speed of car traffic must be slowed down, and banning cyclists to sidewalks is also unacceptable. Linz used this trick to overtake Salzburg and Graz in the Greenpeace ranking.
Fischer’s demand: “The country must create an overarching cycle route network and massively increase human and financial resources.” 50 percent of the entire cycling budget seeped into three outrageously expensive tourism cycle paths.
Cycling lobbyist Harald Peham, who has also been a VP local council since the fall: “It’s difficult to get things moving for cyclists. The goal expressed by all parties before the election of strengthening alternative forms of mobility must be realised.”
The cycling lobby requests suggestions for improving the cycling situation in Steyr and the surrounding area steyr@radlobby.at
Source: Nachrichten
