Starting signal

Thousands of Vorarlbergers get back on the pedals

Despite the rain, Provincial Councillor Daniel Zadra was not deterred from testing the outdoor cycle course.

(Bild: VLK/Bernd Hofmeister)

The "Vorarlberg cycles" campaign kicked off on Monday at Blum's Plant 2 in Höchst. A new app and numerous chances to win are intended to make the switch to bikes attractive.

More than 10,000 Vorarlberg residents already took part in the "Vorarlberg cycles" cycling competition last year. 9.6 million kilometers were covered in the 2023 season, saving 1692 tons of CO2. Top figures that are also impressive in an Austria-wide comparison. The Ländle region came out on top in a number of categories: in the municipalities with between 5,000 and 15,000 inhabitants, the Höchster were at the top of the podium, while the Vorarlberg Energy Institute came top in the companies with 50 to 250 employees. The employees of Dornbirn Sparkasse took first place among companies with more than 250 employees and FH Vorarlberg was ahead among universities.

However, those responsible for cycling in the state, led by state councillor Daniel Zadra, still see room for improvement. Consequently, the aim this season is to encourage even more people to switch to this environmentally friendly mode of transport. The new "Österreich radelt" (Austria cycles) app is intended to contribute to this: "In order to make recording the kilometers cycled as easy as possible, the existing app has been revised and is now available nationwide," explained Zadra.

"Cycling potential" on the way to work
Zadra also relies on Vorarlberg employers: "Motivating employees to travel to work in an environmentally friendly way is an excellent starting point for the necessary transformation of mobility behavior towards climate compatibility," he said. According to a mobility survey, 29 percent of all journeys made on weekdays are to work. Not only is this the most common reason for getting from A to B, but commutes to work are usually shorter than ten kilometers. "We need to exploit this potential for cycling. Companies are important partners in this because they can quickly implement effective measures through company mobility management."

Provincial Councillor Daniel Zadra and Gerhard Humpeler (Blum) presented the 3253rd job bike to employee Saliha Yaldiz.

(Bild: Bernd Hofmeister)

The Höchster fittings manufacturer Blum is setting a good example when it comes to cycling, and the 2024 cycling competition was launched on its premises. 1800 bicycle parking spaces are available at Blum, with 500 new ones added last year alone. "Cyclists can park closer to the workplace than colleagues who drive to work. There are also showers and changing rooms," explained Katharina Schön, the company's mobility expert. All the measures are aimed at making it easier to switch to sustainable means of transport and changing habits in the long term in order to establish new standards.

From bike service days to pump track events
The "Vorarlberg cycles" competition runs until September 30. In addition to employers, municipalities and clubs are also invited to take part. The chance to win numerous prizes such as Raiffeisen savings books or "Vorarlberg eats" vouchers as well as bike service days and pump track events should also motivate people to make the switch.