Cities and mobility: Graz demands green traffic for the future

Cities and mobility: Graz demands green traffic for the future

Graz, Österreich - On March 26, 2025, a meeting of the specialist committee for traffic matters of the Austrian Association of City took place in Graz. Under the motto "Think Global - Act Local", representatives of several Austrian cities and the European Commission discussed the notational role of urban mobility in the context of the Green Deal. The participants emphasized that a plan for sustainable urban mobility (Sump) must be adopted in nine Austrian cities by the end of 2027. The city association represents 260 member communities that represent two thirds of the population and 70 percent of the jobs in Austria. Austria regularly reports on relevant mobility parameters to the European Commission, supported by national authorities.

Graz Mayor Judith Schwentner underlined the central role of cities for safe and efficient mobility. She reported on the current measures in Graz, which include promoting foot and bicycle traffic as well as the expansion of public transport. In particular, automated access controls met with a positive response. Over 25 cities demand to introduce them according to the Italian model, while the examination of new legal provisions for the ban on e-mopeds on cycle and sidewalks was also evaluated positively. Klagenfurt Mayor Ronald Rabitsch called for binding promises from the federal government to support cycling and foot traffic.

financial challenges and government commitment

The need for national support was also discussed by Klagenfurt City Councilor Sandra Wassermann, who pointed out that cities need over a billion euros to provide new vehicles and the necessary infrastructure for the decarbonization of bus traffic. The new government has already given a commitment to expanding public transport, which should benefit the cities in their mobility planning.

The session also dealt with other relevant topics such as sustainable urban logistics, infrastructure for alternative fuels and the introduction of school roads to 30-based km / h. Urban traffic planning faces the challenge of taking into account both the needs of the citizens and to react to future mobility concepts such as autonomous driving.

autonomous driving as a mobility concept of the future

Autonomous driving is expected to fundamentally change urban mobility. According to Deloitte it enables new mobility concepts, whereby vehicles can go from one place to the other. Commercial applications such as self-driving taxi and shuttle fleets play a central role here. These means of transport offer numerous advantages: they are available at any time, do not require a driver's license and enable cost -effective use through the loss of the driver. According to forecasts, robotaxis and shuttles in 2035 could become the main transport of the 21st century.

The introduction of autonomous vehicles also raises questions about the business models of the automotive industry and local public transport. Urban planners are required to observe traffic development and to use the potential of the free parking space in the urban areas. Change in mobility will not only have opportunities, but also challenges for the urban infrastructure and the economy.

In a world that is increasingly moving towards automated and sustainable mobile offenders, the exchange between cities, national authorities and the European Commission is crucial in order to develop and implement sustainable solutions. For more information about autonomous driving and its challenges, visit Böll .