Lienz as a wheel security city: A call to hazard reports!

Lienz as a wheel security city: A call to hazard reports!

The city of Lienz proudly presents itself as paradise for cyclists, while Mayor Elisabeth Blanik and the chairman of the municipal development committee, Christian Steininger, praise cycling in the city in a discussion evening. According to the filmmaker and city planner Reinhard Seiß, Lienz is highlighted as a prime example of a bicycle -friendly city. But while official voices emphasize the advantages, traffic experts like Michael Meschik criticize that reality often looks different. In particular, the connection of outskirts to the center has weaknesses, as a study from 2015 shows, but proposals for improvement have not been implemented. Despite high -priced cycle path projects, the focus is mainly on national connections, while local danger spots are ignored.

The Verkehrsclub Austria (VCÖ) has now launched an interactive card in which cyclists can report dangerous positions in Lienz. This measure aims to include the perspective of the cyclists in the planning of bike paths, which turns out to be necessary. Statistics show that between 2021 and 2023 in Austria 136 fatal cycling accidents took place, in which 81 percent did not take place on cycle paths, but on regular roads. The evaluation of this data shows that tight or missing cycle paths on roads at speeds over 30 kilometers per hour are a high risk, explains the VCÖ. The users of the card can easily enter danger spots and point out grievances so that the responsible authorities take active measures.

The best bike region in Austria?

Lienz is not only known for his problems, but also for its breathtaking natural landscape, which offers ideal conditions for cyclists. The region, also called "Bike Arena", includes impressive mountain chains such as the Lienz Dolomites and the Schobergruppe and offers over 600 kilometers on mountain bike routes and attractive racing bike tours. Annual events such as the Dolomite Cycle Tour are an absolute highlight for cycling fans. The city thus focuses on promoting cycling, even if security on the urban bike paths leaves something to be desired. This contrast between praise and criticism makes it clear that there is still a lot to do in the perception of "everyday cyclists" in order to actually make Lienz a flagship city for cyclists.

For affected cyclists in Lienz, participation in the VCÖ campaign is essential to ensure their security. The possibility of marking and describing danger spots gives the cyclists a voice, while the city reacts to the challenges that cycling in Lienz brings. The Dolomitenstadt reported on the current situation and illustrates the ongoing difficulties for cyclists in the city. In addition, the city offers support for the cycling infrastructure and attracts with a variety of possibilities for outdoor enthusiasts, such as can be found on the official website of Lienz .