Will Steyr finally give priority to cycling?

It is an ambitious goal that the Steyr municipal council set itself in a fundamental resolution at its most recent municipal council meeting: by 2030, the proportion of cyclists in inner-city traffic should increase from the current 3.9 percent to twelve percent. In addition, the “pedestrian share should be increased in principle,” says City Councilor Judith Ringer (VP). Improved cycle connections with the surrounding communities and accelerated construction of cycle paths along the main routes should pave the way there. Another goal is to defuse danger spots for cyclists and pedestrians. More intensive awareness-raising and the clear orientation of the planning standards towards children and young people will be essential steps. “It is important that we as a city create the conditions for living a new form of mobility in everyday life,” says Ringer.

Words that should flow down the throat of Lena Hampl from the Radlobby Steyr like honey. “I would like to see more courage and foresight from politicians,” says the 38-year-old teacher and mother of two: “To achieve this goal, a complete, clearly visible and, above all, safe network of cycle paths is required, so that cycling is an additional option or real alternative to the car.”

A cycle path is only safe if you can let your ten-year-old child cycle through the city with a clear conscience. In addition, this would also relieve many parents, who would then no longer have to drive their children to school or to friends.

Offer for everyday cyclists

“An improvement in the infrastructure for cyclists also means improvements for drivers,” argues Hampl. According to studies, around 60 percent of the population are so-called “concerned” who would like to ride a bike, but for whom fear is a constant companion on the road.

“Our second goal is to turn more Steyrers into everyday cyclists,” says Hampl. In addition to the advantages such as mental and physical fitness and money savings, it is above all the short distances that make Steyr attractive for cyclists. The topography of the city is no longer a problem due to the increasing proportion of e-bikes.

“I sold my car last year and it works,” says the teacher. Since then, she has mainly been mobile by bike and with the city bus annual pass, but she also rents a car on a case-by-case basis.

Great need to catch up

However, Steyr does not only have a lot of catching up to do when it comes to the cycle paths themselves: “If I want to use the bike rack at my next grocery store, I can only park my bike trailer in which the children ride so that the trailer protrudes onto the roadway of the cars”. , says Hampl.

A look beyond the horizon shows that the bike-friendly city is possible: “I’m thinking of cities like Freiburg, Münster, Amsterdam, but also Salzburg or Lustenau, which are already very far,” says the 38-year-old: “That’s where it’s happening wheel plays a major role, because the infrastructure has been developed accordingly.”

In Steyr, the cycle network is designed more for leisure cycling and not for everyday cycling: “The main connections to the schools and major employers such as BMW, SKF or the hospital should be continuous, visible and safe.” The long-term goal is the 15-minute city: the accessibility of the most important facilities by bike and on foot within this period of time.

At a cycling day with the SP faction in mid-June, the cycling lobby wants to sensitize politicians and point out numerous weak points in the city.

• Who is at the bike lobby wants to get involved: Meetings take place every third Tuesday of the month, mostly in the Schwechater guest house.

“Everyday cyclist” series

In the coming weeks, we will regularly feature people in the Steyrer Zeitung who repeatedly cycle through the city on a daily basis and do without a car. And we will write about their reasons for doing so, the benefits, but also the problems that remain as a cyclist.