The Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology (bmvit) is keen to increase the proportion of the modal split, that is to say of transport choices, accounted for by pedestrian and cycle traffic, by improving conditions for these types of transport. The bmvit is focusing on those avenues that are open to it by virtue of its statutory remit.

The bmvit has tasked a specialist department with the specific agendas of non-motorised traffic. Concerns and suggestions voiced by cyclists and pedestrians are collected here and are checked and evaluated jointly with the appropriate specialist departments. Developments and experience at national and international level are also observed and collected. These are used in evaluating measures along with the latest research and theory.

Types of transport

Non-motorised transport – just like motorised private and public transport – chiefly comprises two basic types of transport:

Purpose-driven mobility

Purpose-driven mobility is mobility pursued with a specific aim in mind. A route is chosen which will get a person from A to B. That person will try to complete the journey as quickly and cheaply as possible. Typical purposes are getting to work or getting to the shops. The bicycle or pedestrian route is seen as part of the everyday mobility chain.

Recreational mobility

A different form of mobility is recreational mobility, when what counts is not so much getting from A to B but rather the pleasure of being out and about. In a way the purpose is the journey itself. Typical forms of this are walking, biking, or excursions on foot, on two or four wheels. Leisure and tourism are the overwhelming reason for these movements.

The two types of transport require different things of the transport system and must thus be considered separately. A range of different issues and problems arise, and solutions must be chosen accordingly.

In order to encourage the population to use non-motorised transport the bmvit is concentrating on the following measures in particular:

• proposals for accident prevention based on observed developments in road safety, in-depth analysis of accident statistics and accident patterns;
• publicity campaigns and raising public awareness of "gentle" mobility;
• support for studies and research work on non-motorised transport;
• adaptation of guidelines, rules and laws to protect more vulnerable road users and in the interests of road safety;
• support from Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) and other transport providers in optimising the service offered to cyclists ("Bike & Ride", for example).