Pedestrian security in Graz: 25 new projects for more comfort!

Pedestrian security in Graz: 25 new projects for more comfort!

Graz, Österreich - in Graz is a pleasant trend towards pedestrian friendliness: the proportion of paths covered on foot has increased to 21 percent in the past two years after it has remained in stable 19 percent from 2004 to 2021. This development is largely due to the initiatives of Vice Mayor Judith Schwentner, who implemented 25 new projects to secure pedestrians: inside. In total, the city of Graz invested around 1.5 million euros in improving security for pedestrians: inside. In their words: "We have closed numerous holes in the Graz sidewalk network again this year and the safety of pedestrians: improved on the inside." The projects focus, among other things, on the creation of secure school routes as well as the improvement of the sidewalks and stops, which is of great importance for the security and comfort of pedestrians: says Schwentner.

As the analysis of the Austria (VCÖ) Verkehrs Club shows, there are striking differences in the mobility habits between the urban and rural areas. While 21 percent of the paths are covered in Graz, there are only a share of nine percent for footpaths in the surrounding regions, such as in the Hartberg-Fürstenfeld, Southeast Styria and Weiz districts. When using the bicycle, there is also a gap: in Graz, the proportion of cycling rides is 20 percent, while it is only four percent in rural regions. The VCÖ expert Katharina Jaschinsky emphasizes that there is also potential for increased use of electric bicycles in order to promote everyday mobility in Styria. Because there are many short everyday paths in the city and in the regions that can also be covered by bike or on foot.

improvements for more security

Judith Schwentner's projects not only aim to make walking in the city safer, but also to change general mobility behavior. The proportion of the paths covered with the car in rural regions fell to up to 63 percent, which is 30 percent more than in Graz. This shows that there is a need for action to expand the pedestrian and cycling offer. "The potential for more active mobility is great," adds Jaschinsky, referring to the growing popularity of the electric bicycles.