Gentle Mobility The Graz Model of Success Right of Way for People ...... 3 Graz – City of Diversity...... 4 Decision: City for Cars or More Space for People ...... 6 Gentle Mobility- an Idea for the Future ...... 8 Space for People ...... 12 A Green Net for Graz ...... 14 Graz Rides Bicycle ...... 15

Contents Right of Way for Public Transportation ...... 17 Highlights in the Net of Tramway Lines ...... 20 Speed 30/50 in Graz ...... 21 Parking in Graz ...... 22 Graz sets Trends ...... 24 Data according to Graz and to Transportation ...... 28

Thanks to DI Gerhard Ablasser and DI Heike Falk (The Executive Office for Urban Planning, Develop- ment and Construction/Unit for European Programmes and International Cooperation) and DI Thomas Fischer (The Executive Office for Urban Planning, Development and Construction).

CONTACT: City of Graz The Executive Office for Urban Planning, Development and Construction Unit for European Programmes and International Cooperation Building Authority, 5. Floor A-8020 Graz, Europaplatz 20 Tel. +43 (0) 316/872-4201 Tel. +43 (0) 316/872-3581 Fax +43 (0) 316/872-3589 Departement Traffic Planing Building Authority, 7. Floor A-8020 Graz, Europaplatz 20 Tel. +43 (0) 316/872-2881 Departement Street Maintainance Building Authority, 4. and 5. Floor A-8020 Graz, Europaplatz 20 Tel. +43 (0) 316/872-3601

A tramway slides along the pedestrian area in Herrengasse.

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Gentle mobility also means…

Jakominiplatz is a public transport …a lot of recreational space for people The People’s Right of Way A high quality of life is es- This orientation, in combination with a nefits of this innovative concept. He sential for living in the city. dramatic increase in the growth of the never lost sight of his vision of giving volume of traffic, led to massive envi- space and room to move back to the If the quality of life deterio- ronmental and traffic problems. people. rates, the image of the city This is why the city of Graz said He placed emphasis on strengthening as a good place of residence goodbye to motor vehicle-oriented the weakest players in the system. will suffer. As a consequence road planning and early on followed Children, elderly people, handicapped of the poor quality of life, the new paths. In its new approach, the people, parents with small children residents will relocate else- city focused on future-oriented traffic and most of all pedestrians and cy- measures such as promoting bicycle clists contribute more than anybody where, which in turn will have traffic, the development of the public does towards an intact environment fatal effects on the economic transport network, extensive 30km/h and a good quality of life through their situation of the city. zones, modern parking space ma- method of mobility. nagement, and modern technologies The aim of the concept of ‘Gentle Mo- The city of Graz places much im- for reducing exhaust emissions. bility’ is to utilize various means of portance on quality in all areas of life. The decrease in the number of acci- transport as environmentally and city- The quality of life is not only defined dents in restricted speed zones alone compatibly as possible. The following by an intact environment, ideal living proves the effectiveness of this re- aspects are central to this concept: conditions and attractive economic thinking. All these traffic measures are More security for all traffic partici- surroundings but good conditions for a consequence of the implementation pants, a more environmentally friendly individual mobility behavior as well are of the traffic guidelines 2000, or of the and efficient handling of traffic in which a defining aspect of the quality of life. so-called ‘Gentle Mobility’, the traffic unnecessary car rides are avoided, as In the concept of gentle mobility, peo- philosophy of Graz which has found well as public space being made as ple have the right of way. However, this its place in several EU- Programs and attractive as possible, in other words, has not always been the case. In the has been acknowledged international- space for people. 1950s and 1960s, traffic planning was ly. These guidelines led to a conflict of almost exclusively aligned to moto- The pioneer in the implementation of interests. The limitations of the mo- rized private transport. This comes as the concept of ‘Gentle Mobility’ was torized individual traffic especially no surprise given the limited number of the City Councilor of Traffic and former have caused heated debates, which motor vehicles on the roads then and Vice Mayor of Graz, Mr. Erich Edeg- are still ongoing today. This conflict of neither was the steep increase in mo- ger. Even in the face of great adversity, interests has caused delays and set- tor vehicle registrations foreseeable at this passionate cyclist never gave up backs for this intelligent philosophy in that time. trying to convince people of the be- both the past and today.

- 3 - Graz – City of Diversity The Kunsthaus Graz, a Museum of Contemporary Art, which was opened in 2003, the year in which Graz was Cultural Capital of Europe, is a milestone of cultural life in Graz.

European Cultural Capital, UNESCO World Cultural Inheritance, bicycle-stronghold, domain of many Nobel Prize winners, cultural stronghold, and melting pot of many cultures - Graz has many faces. The city portrays itself on some occasions as metropolis, on other occasions as contemplative oasis with Mediterranean flair. But Graz always enchants the tourists and its visitors cannot help but succumb to its charm.

or centuries, or more precise- monastery in the world located about youthful dynamic during the acade- ly for millennia, the Graz Ba- 15 km from Graz. In 1260, Graz was mic year. Fsin has been a place where awarded its town charter and coat of The period of flourishing growth to- humans have liked to settle. On an arms, the panther of the Earl of Steyr. wards the end of the Middle Ages, area of about 128 square kilometers, which can be noted still today in the where today roughly 350,000 people uncountable buildings of this peri- bustle around daily, the first ‘citizens Graz - boomtown in the Middle od in the city center, increased the of Graz’ settled between 3000 and Ages popularity of the city of Graz as a 2000 before Christ: Stone-age people place of residence. At the same time, who were still far from living in village- Between 1438 and 1493, Graz ex- new wealth made it increasingly at- structures. Those structures emerged perienced its first boom and period tractive as prey for plundering armies about 800 years before Christ. In the of prosperity. Archduke Friedrich V., who passed through the area. With areas of Pfauengarten and Karme- later Emperor Friedrich III., declared the continuous and growing threat of literplatz at the foot of the Schloss- the city at the river Mur his favorite the Turks, the Schlossberg was trans- berg, archeologists discovered the residence and designed and built the formed into a fortress in 1543, and remains of the oldest settlements in so-called ‘City Crown’ around the ca- in 1642, the city added the arsenal Graz built during the Hallstatt period thedral. Graz experienced its second (Zeughaus) to its fortifications. Of the while constructing the largest under- period of prosperity under the rule of 188,000 weapons and suits of armor ground parking lot in Graz. Archduke Karl II., who had the old Je- which the armory held at the time, The name of the city dates back to suit University built in Hofgasse and 32,000 are still on display in this, the the year 955 when Graz- or rather in this way laid the cornerstone for the world’s largest historic armory today. ‘Gradec’, the Slavic word for ‘small center of study and education which Napoleon finally did away with the fortress’, was first mentioned. This Graz is today. Today approximately fortifications of the Schlossberg. In small fortress stood - where else 40,000 young adults study and are the peace treaty of Schönbrunn, it could it have stood – on Schlossberg trained in one of the four main univer- was decreed in 1809 that the fortress (473 m). In 1128, the name ‘Gradec’ sities or in one of the study courses of had to be destroyed, probably out changed to ‘Gracz’ recorded in a the Joanneum University of Applied of annoyance and rage becau- certificate in the library of Stift Rein Sciences to become respected pro- se the armies of the little Corsican - the oldest still occupied Cistercian fessionals who contribute to the city’s had not been able to conquer it.

- 4 - Gentle Mobility

From the 19th century onwards, the development of Graz accelerated. In 1868, the city park (Stadtpark) was given its current appearance; in 1887, the first horse-drawn tram went into operation; in 1899, the Opera House was built; in 1912, the General Hos- pital was opened and by 1938, Graz consisted of 16 districts. The 17th district (Puntigam) followed in 1988.

Graz - top modern

Towards the end of the 20th Century, Graz was more and more in the inter- In the year 2002, the main square of Graz was redesigned national spotlight, the Metropolis on the River Mur. In 1999, the city center indicate 184,000 employees. The was declared UNESCO World Heri- Auto Cluster around ‘Magna Steyr’ tage Site because of its charm as a and the traditional company ‘AVL’ busy and lively place with historic ar- is the biggest employer in Graz and chitectural substance and its unique has a strong reputation on the inter- roof landscape. Also in 1999, the pil- national market, just as, for example, grimage church in Mariatrost was up- Siemens-SGP-Verkehrstechnik has. graded to Basilica. In 2002, the city‘s The ‘Wood Cluster’, ‘human.techno- exhibition hall (Stadthalle) was open- logie. styria’ or the ‘Material Cluster’ ed with the World Buddhist Meeting ensure future oriented innovation ‘Kalachakra’ in the presence of the and ensure the position of Graz as a Dalai Lama, a clear sign of the on- working place and business location. going intercultural and interreligious The companies are supported by re- dialogue in Graz. A path taken which search institutions such as Joanneum earned the city the Europe Prize as early as 1979 and which was conse- Research, the Christian Doppler Re- quently followed with the establish- search Association and the Austrian World Cultural Inheritance since 1999 ment of the City Office for Integration Academy of Sciences. The compe- in 2005. In 2003, Graz became the tence centers in Graz which work in Graz is growing Cultural Capital of Europe and built various fields from biocatalysis to the Since the end of the 19th Century, the the Island in the River Mur (Murinsel) virtual motor vehicle are a source of population of Graz has steadily been increasing. (Source: Central register and the Kunsthaus Graz, a Museum comprehensive knowledge and inno- of residents) of Contemporary Art , both of which vation. have caused a furore on a global sca- 1850: about 50.000 inhabitants le ever since. 1900: 168.808 inhabitants 1951: 226.476 inhabitants Graz at the Center of 1971: 248.500 inhabitants South-East Europe 1991: 237.528 inhabitants Graz - City of Economy and 2010: 257.898 inhabitants Culture Graz owes its status as a business and research location to its central The title Cultural Capital is proof of geographic location in Southeast Eu- the rich cultural life in Graz. Besides rope. Within a radius of 300 km lie the the established and renowned art in- cities Vienna, Linz and Salzburg, but stitutions and festivals such as ‘Sty- also Budapest, Zagreb, Ljubljana or riarte’, ‘Steirischer Herbst’, ‘Forum Trieste. In order to improve the city’s Stadtpark’ or ‘Camera Graz’, other events such as ‘La Strada’ or the accessibility, Graz airport has been ‘Jazz-Sommer’ have long been esta- developed into an air terminal, though blished and are today highly popular small in comparison to other airports with their fans who are willing to travel but excellent in service. In addition, long distances to take part in and en- the Koralm line and the Semmering joy the festivals. tunnel are being built to increase pas- Approximately a third of all Styrian senger and freight volumes to and inhabitants work in Graz - statistics from Graz. The clock tower (Uhrturm) is the symbol of Graz

- 5 - Decision: A City for Cars or More Space for People For a long time, the car pro- way to cars and traffic. Previously mised unlimited mobility for green courtyards were turned into everybody. On the upside, it parking lots, many parks and trees fell victim to tarmac. could keep its promise - mo- The calculation, however, did not pay bility is higher than ever be- off. More space for traffic caused more fore. On the downside, there traffic, by now a well-known fact. The are accident victims, traffic problem of poor mobility arose again noise and environmental pol- – now with a time delay and to an even larger extent. The ever-growing lution. The dream of unlimi- proportion of automotive vehicles in ted mobility has long turned traffic increased environmental pollu- into a nightmare. tion. The danger of particulate matter as a health risk which considerably reduces the quality of life has only The first automobile was an epochal been discovered recently and which invention in 1886. Ever since Karl in the area of Graz and surroundings Friedrich Benz’s first outing in his is mainly caused by traffic. three-wheel, one horsepower ‘motor The climatically adverse conditions carriage’, the car has become the of the city geographically located in symbol of technical innovation and a basin together with the weather economic growth, but also of social phenomenon of temperature inversi- Today unthinkable: Cars in the city center status. One’s ego is reflected in the on which is common to Graz in win- car one drives - and this may be the ter, regularly results in pollutants ex- reason why discussions on cars often ceeding the threshold values. In the do not get beyond the emotional level. 1970s and 1980s it was mainly smog As in most European and North Ame- which suffocated the city, today it is rican countries, the traffic policy for particulate matter, nitrogen oxides the city of Graz has concentrated on and in summer, the ozone. The bad motorized individual transport for a air quality, the increasingly criticized long time, which promised many ad- traffic noise and the negative re- vantages in its early days (and undis- sults of the road safety records in the putedly still does so today). Traffic po- 1970s caused a rethinking process in licy defined itself through measures city politics. City planning was no lon- aimed at increasing road networks. ger only car oriented. High performance streets were sup- posed to keep the traffic flowing This decision was made easier by A mirror image of mobility smoothly and in this way help redu- the historic structure of the city. The ce exhaust emissions and fuel con- medieval city center of Graz was, of sumption. In order to ensure the flow course, built anything but car friend- of unrestricted motor vehicle traffic, ly; the narrow alleys show their charm tramlines were shut down. The circu- far more effectively without cars. The lar line no. 2 on the Glacis was gra- aim of the city’s political representa- dually closed down during the years tives was to maintain and improve the 1962 to 1971, the line no. 3 to Gösting quality of life without restricting the re- as early as from 1955 to 1957. During quirements of mobility. In order to be the year 1950, the Graz tram network able to direct the development of traf- was 41.3 km long. It was reduced to fic and its consequences in the region only 29.3 km ten years later. The last of Graz, data on the current traffic si- trolleybus in Graz which ran between tuation was collected and evaluated. Griesplatz and Strassgang stopped Experts worked out three scenarios its services after June 28, 1967. which included various measures and Not only public transport was cut their effects up to the year 2010. The Safe and on foot in the pedestrian zone back, many open spaces had to give scenario which proved best for the in-

- 6 - Gentle Mobility

A problem for car drivers and inhabitants: traffic jams, pollutants, traffic noise. The alternative: a gentle mobility habitants and the city was to be the led at Magna Steyr, at the slip road to Traffic in Graz basis for a future oriented and a ge- the Autobahn A2 at Sternäckerweg neral comprehensive concept for in- or in Weinzödl) in combination with Every day 52,000 citizens of Graz use novative measures. new routes and projects to make pu- 40,000 cars to go to work. 136,000 blic transport more attractive (the new commuters come to Graz daily in 100,000 cars. On an average day, Commuters - a traffic pro- line no. 4 leading up to the park & ride facility at Sternäckerweg in Puntigam 220,000 cars pass through the city and every day 47,000 people cross the city blem or the new local transport hub along the Southern railway in Puntigam limits using public transport More than 184,000 employees work and Don Bosco), should reduce the (Source: Graz Parkraummanagement GmbH, in the city of Graz. Many of them pressure on the traffic situation in Executive Board for Urban Planning, Develop- commute daily from regions outside Graz. ment and Construction, Department for Traffic the city limits. The Integrated Traffic Planning) Concept of 1995 was based on an estimate of 70,000 commuters. Today this figure has doubled because of lower housing costs, a more attrac- tive living environment in the outskirts and beyond the city limits and becau- se of an increase in the motorization of society. The trend continues to point towards an increase in commuters, which is a problem for the limited traffic capa- city of cities which grew historically. Therefore, the concept of ‘Gentle Mo- bility’ aims at decreasing the number of commuters using private cars and moving them over to public transport. Parking space management with new park & ride facilities (as already instal-

- 7 - In 1987, the city was faced by a sobering prognosis: Traffic experts predicted an increase in motor vehicles of Gentle Mobility – An Idea for the Future 25 percent by the year 2010. The prognosis led to three scenarios for a decision on future traffic policies.

he ‘Scenario Trend’ indicates a development without control Tmeasures. Only the traffic infra- structure would be adapted to accom- modate the fast growing rate of traffic and motorization. In this scenario, the area of roads would increase by 30% in the center and by 50% in the access roads leading to the center.

The Trend

The result: the volume of traffic of private motorized transport would increase by 30%, whereby the per- centage of public transport, cyclists and pedestrians would decrease considerably. Traffic noise and exhaust emissions would have negative effects on in- habitants and on the environment. ty’, offers a clear improvement for Graz but would also sustain and Traffic security for weaker players inhabitants, environment and traffic improve mobility in the city. There- such as cyclists or pedestrians would security. It places focus on the pro- fore, a guideline for gentle mobility decrease, as would the urban quality motion of pedestrians, cyclists and was passed as the ‘Transport Policy of life and the value of property loca- on public transport. The concept pro- Guideline 2000’ in the Town Council ted in central areas of the city. Over- vides control measures which restrict of Graz in December 1992. development and relocation to the motorized traffic to a necessary limit communities surrounding Graz would and help to reduce unnecessary jour- increase. neys in favor of ‘gentle’ possibilities Radical Changes in of mobility. As a result, airborne pol- Traffic Policies: Car-Friendly City lutants would decrease while traffic security and quality of living would A Long and Stony Road In the scenario ‘Car- Friendly City’, increase. automobile traffic is actively promo- The analysis of the three scenarios The way to ‘Gentle Mobility’ re- ted and encouraged. Parts of the came to a definite result: The imple- mained long and stony for those who historic city center would have to mentation of the scenario of ‘Gentle wanted to implement the ‘Transport give way to the needs of traffic such Mobility’ would not only improve the Policy Guideline 2000.’ As early as as streets and parking spaces. This quality of life for the inhabitants of the 1970s, the first strategies were scenario calls for an increase in road capacity by 70% and, just as Traffic in Graz: Hope and Reality in the scenario ‘Trend’, an increase of 30% for parking spaces. The ne- gative consequences of the scena- rio ‘Trend’ would thereby increase further and manifest themselves in Public Transport a massive way. Pedestrians

Cyclists

Gentle Mobility Individual Motor Car Traffic

The third scenario, ‘Gentle Mobili- Current Status 1991 Trend Guidance 2000 Current Status 2001 Current Status 2009

- 8 - Gentle Mobility

strengths and weaknesses. The results of the so called VÜP solution pointed towards moving away from the one sided promotion Gentle Mobility – An Idea for the Future of private motorized transport: only by an enhancement of the public transport system (tram and bus) can the overall traffic situation be better managed and, at the same time, the environmental situation be improved without compromising the accessibi- lity of the city.

The „Guidelines 2000“

For all the reasons stated above, the package which was adopted by the District Council encompassed an intensive investment in bus and tram services combined with a focused parking space manage- ment to bring advantages for all parties involved. The package allows an expansion of the road network only if residents are not unreaso- nably negatively affected by it. The capacity of the inner city road network is not to be expanded so as not to cause even more road traf- formed with the aim of covering the public transport were developed fic and so as not to increase health need for mobility in the cities at the independently. All elements of urban risk caused by particulate matter or same time as keeping the negative traffic are, however, interdepen- carbon dioxide emissions. effects on people, the city and the dent. Supply and demand have a environment as low as possible. On great influence on the choice of The principles of ‘Gentle Mobi- average, city inhabitants are on the means of transport, mobility beha- lity’ served as the basis for the move in the city for a little more than vior and ultimately, the entire city ‘Transport Policy Guidelines 2000’ one hour per day. During the remai- planning. which were adopted by the Town ning 23 hours, they are affected by These findings served as the basis Council of Graz. They state five goals the mobility behavior of others. The for comprehensive mobility concepts including strategies for the imple- task in hand is, therefore, to obtain a spanning various means of trans- mentation which should help and, in balance between the quick and the port. Between 1977 and 1985, traffic fact, have helped to realize ‘Gentle safe accessibility of destinations and experts of the city of Graz worked out Mobility’ in Graz. The ‘Guidelines the need for the highest possible qua- a ‘Solution Across Various Means of 2000’ were in accordance with the lity of life. Transport’ (VÜP) for the eastern part ‘Austrian Integrated Traffic Concept A reorientation in traffic planning of the city for the first time. In this 1991’ and the ‘Styrian Integrated Traf- was called for. For a long time, concept, all means of transport were fic Program 1991’. concepts for road building and considered according to their

A bike & ride facility The Most Beautiful Train Station 2003 Modern: A Biodiesel-driven bus

- 9 - Today unthinkable: Through traffic in Griesgasse (top left), on Jakominiplatz, (left centre) and in Schmiedgasse (bottom left, right)

Good Accessibility must be adapted to the respective Room for all Means of Traffic environment and not the other way Good accessibility to all desti- around. The ratio of cyclists and pedestrians nations of city, regional, long to the total of amount of traffic has to distance and goods traffic is a first increase further. Public transport has point of focus of the new traffic Short Distances to expand and the proportion of moto- planning. rized private transport has to be redu- Not only the city itself, but also Overdevelopment is one of the ced to an environmentally acceptable destinations within the city have major problems of our times. level. Particular focus is put on the to be and have to remain easily New housing concepts in the ecological and economical interaction accessible, and this not only surroundings of Graz and shop- of all means of transport. for one’s own vehicle but ping centers on theperiphery of especially for public transport, the city not only increase the de- which is to be extensively expan- mand for more motor vehicles, Citizen Participation ded and promoted according to a they also attract motorized traffic. new state of ecological and traffic This is where communal planning There is little else inhabitants of awareness of the city. policy is challenged to come up the city feel as strongly about as with solutions for the necessary the consequences and effects of infrastructure in such a way traffic, since each one of us is daily Tolerable Traffic thatdistances are shortened in confronted with them. This is why order to allow for accessibility on traffic policies are democracy at its Traffic must become safer, more foot or by bicycle. best and it is also the reason why environmentally friendly and more the ‘Guidelines on Gentle Mobility’ tolerable for the city. Speed limits are the result of a long public dis-

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Decisions on Traffic Policies of the City of Graz Source: Department for City Development/Department for Traffic Planning, City of Graz Council

● Trend-Setting Decisions on Traffic Policies from 1977 to 1985 Decision on the principles of traffic policy

● Integrated Traffic Concept for Graz 1987 Guidelines on traffic policy and general program of measures

● VÜP 1988 to 1991 Solution Across Various Means of Transport for Graz-East Decision for the alternative ‘Tram and Bus Concept’ corresponding to the guideline „Gentle Mobility“

Continuation of the Integrated Traffic Concept for Graz 1987 ● Integrated Traffic Concept 1992

● Guideline 2000 on Traffic Policy Resolution of December 19922 – „Gentle Mobility“

● Integrated Traffic Concept – General Program of Measures The ‘GIVE’ Concept – Graz Integrated Traffic Development (Grazer Integrierte Verkehrs-Entwicklung)

● Tramway-Expansion Program December 2003

The inner city of Graz has not always been a place designated for people. As late as in the 1970s, cars were allowed to pass through Sporgasse (right), parked on Jakominiplatz or in Schmiedgasse, all places which have now become pedestrian zones. cussion among citizens, experts guidelines for routine work and inhabitants and delivery traffic. In and politicians, which included a lot measures in transport policies, order to improve the difficult par- of information sharing. This resulted which include the region around king situation along the streets, in a high level of acceptance of the Graz, the Province of Styria and the several new underground parking measures, as confirmed by two State. garages with hundreds of parking public opinion polls conducted on the topic in July 1995. places were built in the city center Traffic Organisation over the course of the past years. Outside this central area, the The „GIVE“ Concept In order to bring the commercial, chargeable short term parking ‘blue shopping, and commuter traffic zone’ extends to the ring roads, The next step towards ‘Gentle down to a ‘necessary’ level, a new followed by the new ‘green parking Mobility’ was an integrated traf- way of handling traffic, especially in fic concept, the so-called Graz the city center, is called for: zone’. Integrated Traffic Development ( ‘Grazer Integrierte Verkehrsent- Pedestrian zones, bicycle paths Exemption rules allow for long-term wicklung –GIVE’), which was or 30 km/h zones have effectively parking possibilities for residents, decided on by the Town Council improved mobility in the city. The whereas commuters may avoid of Graz at the end of 1995. Its im- new traffic organization works on parking problems by using the park plementation was to be organized the basis of central pedestrian & ride facilities with direct access to according to 215 points, which had zones, which are only crossed by been discussed and defined by public transport and bicycle public transport. experts in this field. The GIVE routes. Adjacent to the pedestrian Concept includes focal projects, zones, access roads are open to

- 11 - Space for People Almost all areas of the city core are designated pedestrian zones to allow for space for people. Motorized traffic is limited to a necessary minimum.

Walking is not only one of the proportion of pedestrians of all jour- most primal forms of movement neys had decreased from 24% in the of people, it also is healthy for year 1982, it then fell further to 21% the body and the circulatory in 1991, and finally reached 14% in system. Who walks, sees more, 2004. By the way, in 1991, apercen- can appreciate his/her environ- tage of 23% had been estimated for the year 2000. ment more and contributes to an intact environment. Space for People he proportion of pedestrians in Graz has been decreasing In the year 1986, the city of Graz continuously over the last few set the course for the implementa- T tion of the concept ‘Gentle Mobility’ decades and is currently at 14%. The cause of this trend is the break-up of for the inner city areas. The historic long-established structures. Local Old Town in the center and the histo- grocers give way to the big shopping ric Murvorstadt (River Mur Suburb) centers which offer large parking were converted to pedestrian zones, spaces to their customers. Overde- which, in some areas may also be velopment and an increase in moto- used by cyclists. rization give people the impression In the mornings, this zone is open to that they can no longer do without commercial deliveries. Pedestrians cars to get where they need to go. may stroll through those are as wit- So it comes as little surprise that the hout being subjected to the dangers

- 12 - Gentle Mobility of road traffic. The inner city has once again become a recreational space for people and may be used for va- rious activities. On the main square, for instance, which covers an area of 11,500m² and which after a 2-year conversion was reopened in 2002, various activities such as beach ball, volleyball and street soccer tourna- ments have taken place. The Kar- meliterplatz, after renovation ended in 2004, now shines in new splendor and is the latest addition to the pe- destrian zone of the city. In the winter of 2005, it was used as an ice skating rink for adults and children for the first time. The Freiheitsplatz has also been spa- red some of the traffic. Since 2004, part of the square has been conver- ted from a parking area to a recrea- tional area for both the inhabitants of Graz and for tourists.

Awards Areas with little traffic (pink) adjoining pedestrian zones (blue) In 1992, Graz received the ‘Most Pedestrian-Friendly City of Austria’ award. In 1993, the city was the win- ner of the campaign ‘Road Traffic Safe for Children’ organized by the Austrian Road Safety Board. In 1994, Graz was once again rewarded for its efforts in the campaign ‚Children on the Road’ organized by the Austrian Transport Clubs, and in 2005, the Austrian Road Safety Board honored Graz with the Traffic Safety Award.

Full Steam Ahead

Graz does not intend to rest on its laurels. The goal of the city is to be able to establish a comprehensive, comfortable and secure network of On Karmeliterplatz: pedestrian zone including a water fountain, used now as a playground instead of being a parking area. pedestrian zones. Especially in the sible for pedestrians, many car rides flowing around it. The two halves are outskirts of the city, many measures will become avoidable. In this way, the connected by a small children’s play- must still be taken to ensure the pro- quality of life in the city will improve. ground. tection and convenience for those on In addition, Graz wants to offer many On the left bank of the river, next to foot. Pedestrian axes are to make the attractions to its inhabitants and the Mur Island, the Mur promenade different parts of the city more acces- guests travelling on foot. The Island begins. It was opened in 2002 and sible on foot and allow for unproble- in the river Mur, which was designed leads under the Main Bridge and Te- matic and rapid connections to vario- by the American star architect Vito getthof Bridge downriver to the area us destinations. Acconci for the year 2003 in which of the Augarten Park. The promena- This ‘green network’, which also of- Graz was ‘European Cultural Capital’, de, with its many viewpoints, benches fers advantages to cyclists, will con- is a pedestrian zone in the center of and places to relax, is always busy nect all important destinations, so the river. In the part designed along and very popular with the public. that people may set out from home on the lines of an amphitheater, outdoor Climbers enjoy the climbing wall, foot and not by car. If shops, schools, theatre performances are staged, which was opened in October 2003 childcare facilities or public transport and in the covered half of the Island, and which is located on the promena- stops are made more easily acces- an attractive café overlooks the river de near the Mur Island.

- 13 - A Green Network for Graz

Green zones stand for a high quality of life in a city. In Graz, many green zones serve as routes of gentle mobility at the same time. The ‘Green Network’ extends over 550 km and enhances the quality of city life for cy- clists, pedestrians, children and adults.

f you look at a satellite picture of Graz, the green face of the city be- Icomes visible. Not only from a di- stance, but also from close-up, Graz presents itself as a green city. Parks, tree-lined avenues, playgrounds, green courtyards and flowering gar- dens may be found all over the city.

The ‘Green Network’ connects all these green zones, linking residen- tial areas with parks, playgrounds and ultimately with the woods at the city limits. The linking happens in a ‘green way’, by means of pathways, green foot and bicycle paths and nature to exist and to be experienced improves the air quality in Graz and other routes reserved for ‘Gentle Mo- in an urban context. The ‘Green Net- influences the climate and filters air- bility’. The ‘Green Network’ consists work’ has four major objectives. For borne pollutants, and the network of green areas and their connections. one, there is the traffic function. On has a creative and aesthetic function. green paths, roads with reduced traf- Tree-lined avenues are not only beau- The ‘Green Network’ takes the ex- fic, along meadows or streams, one tiful to look at, they are an element of pansion of the city into account. It pre- can travel from home to the grocery design which may give normally unat- vents green areas from disappearing store, to work or to the next park or tractive parts of the city a pleasant where new housing estates and traf- playground in a pleasant and healthy look and also makes orientation ea- fic routes are built or where extensive way. The car can be left behind. sier. The overall idea is to offer safe renovation takes place. Parks, play- and recreational mobility for children grounds and front gardens and even and adults alike, relaxation on the individual trees are important for city Recreational and Healthy doorstep, beautiful green streets and ecology and the quality of life. residential areas and to provide cle- The second objective is the recrea- an air as well as ecological diversity In order to ensure the existence of tional function. Doing sports in sport within the city. In Graz, this idea be- sufficient green areas, the need for facilities, parks and playgrounds or their protection was stated in the simply spending time there is just as comes reality. City Development Concept as early healthy as it is relaxing. as 1980. The ‘Green Network’ is the Taking it easy after a tiring day is pos- logical consequence of the City De- sible without taking a trip to faraway velopment Concept in this area. At places. Thanks to the ‘Green Net- the same time, it is not an obligato- work’, it is possible to relax nearby, at ry norm, but a dynamic system that places in easy ‘Gentle Mobility’ reach. serves city-planning schemes. The A further function of the network lies long-term goal is the preservation in the ecological importance of green and further development of a network zones to the city. It is home to vari- linking all green areas, which allows ous species of wildlife and plants, it Bicycle Route in Augarten

- 14 - Gentle Mobility

With its many innovative ideas for the promotion of bi- cycle traffic, Graz gained the reputation of being the ‘Bicy- cle Capital of Austria’. Graz continues to place strong emphasis on the bicycle as the ‘gentle means of trans- port’ par excellence.

ycling is the thing to do in Graz. One look at the main Csquare proves how popular the bicycle is in Graz. The parking spaces for bicycles are mostly cram- med and cyclists characterize the ci- tyscape as much as pedestrians do. This should not come as a surprise. Ever since its commitment to ‘Gentle Graz Rides Mobility’, the city has put a great deal of effort into the expansion of bicy- cle routes in Graz and has created a broad network of bicycle paths. Star- Bicycle ting from the city center, the bicycle path network spans the city right up to the outskirts and even beyond into the communities surrounding Graz. In 2008, its length was 110 km with continuous expansion foreseen. The goal the city has set itself is 190 km of bicycle paths and routes so that cyclists can move safely and quickly around the city.

Right of Way forcyclists

In order for cyclists to take the shor- test route possible, the city has ope- ned up one way streets for bicycles and has granted exceptions for bicy- cles in traffic-free zones. More space for bicycle paths and bicycle parking spots has been designated. Where cars are stuck in traffic, cyclists can easily slip through.

190 km will be the length of the Graz bicycle path network after its completion Velo-City 1999

In cooperation with the city of Maribor, Graz held the „Velo-City Congress“ in April 1999. 400 experts from 38 countries ex- changed their expertise, knowledge and information on the topic. The con- gress had a sustainable effect on the city. The bicycle path along Lendkai was, for instance, completed during this event. Model of best practice in bicycle traffic: the bicycle underpass beneath Kepler Bridge

- 15 - Net of bicycle routs (110 km) After ‘Velo-City’ many connections ken are showing effect. In the year unit provide fast and easy mobility on to the outskirts, tangential routes 1982, the proportion of cyclists was two wheels. Those who are not fami- between districts and routes out of about 8%, which increased to 14% liar with Graz and want to explore the the city into the countryside were es- by the year 2004. The goal is set at city by bicycle may make use of the tablished. A highlight in the bicycle 16%. In order to achieve this goal, the online digital bicycle route map which events of Graz was the connection city has made further efforts and ta- is user-friendly. After typing in the de- to the ‘Alpentour’, the longest bicy- ken more measures to make bicycle stination of choice, the map shows cle route across Austria which spans riding even more attractive to the in- the best bicycle route connections to 1134 km with Graz and Vienna as its habitants and commuters of Graz. get you to your destination. The digi- corner points. The staging of the Eu- tal map also indicates danger spots, Bicycle Station, Digital Bicy- ropean Mountain Bike Championship rent-a-bike places and bicycle repair in Graz and Stattegg in the year 2003 cle Route Map, Rent-a-Bike shops. The digital bicycle map was and the ‘UEC Mountain Bike Mara- and Bicycle Service Unit initiated during the course of the EU- thon Masters European Champion- mobility project ‘Trendsetter’. A spe- ship’ which took place in Graz and In December 2004, the bicycle station cial facility for cyclists, pedestrians Stattegg from 2005 to 2007 proved was opened at the main train station and skaters is the underpass beneath once more that Graz is a stronghold of Graz. As the first of its kind in Aus- Kepler Bridge which cost 1.5 million and important center of cycling. tria, it offers bike & ride. To commute Euro to construct and was opened to the city by train and to continue from in the beginning of 2006. At the end More Cyclists in the City the train station to your working place of 2007, the previously dangerous s- by bike - no problem in Graz. A rent- bend at the underpass at Augarten The measures which the city has ta- a-bike facility and a bicycle service Bridge was made less dangerous.

- 16 - Gentle Mobility Right of Way for Public Transport

Especially regarding the pu- creased drastically. Traffic, especial- total number of trips per passenger blic transport system, a lot ly of cars between the surrounding cars, to be more relevant than ever. countryside and the city itself has In order to be able to fulfill this requi- has been achieved in Graz reached alarming proportions. About rement, we not only have to increase since the year 2000. Sever- 157,000 people come from the grea- the capacity of regional public trans- al tangential bus lines have ter Graz area into the city every day, port, but also make public transport a been established; new local of which 21,000 use public transport more attractive offer. Graz is working traffic hubs have been built; whereas 136,000 come by car - eit- hard to achieve this objective. her driving themselves or traveling three tramlines have been ex- with somebody. A further increase tended. The overall aim is to in these numbers can be expected. Attractive Public Transportation make public transport extre- The concept of ‘Gentle Mobility’ must mely attractive to the extent lure this massive number of motorists The City of Graz, the Province of Sty- that the steady growth in the over to public transport. In 1991, the ria and the State have spent millions proportion of public transport to the of Euros on investments in the public number of journeys by car is overall traffic volume in Graz was transport system. In March 2001, the finally halted. 18%. This amount increased slightly first of 18 new ‘City Runners’ was in- to 19% in 2005. The objective stated troduced. The highly modern, comfor- As a consequence of overdevelop- in the ‘Guidelines 2000’ of increasing table low-floor tram type has proved ment and the growing number of peo- the proportion of people traveling successful and more of these Vari- ple and vehicles in the greater area by public transport to 21% by 2010, otrams will be added between 2009 of Graz, the volume of traffic has in- seems, in the face of the increase in and 2012.

- 17 - Public transport in Graz could not do without the tram. More than 52 million passengers ride it per year.

In the course of the construction of waits to take the passengers from the of 286 km and carry up to 314,000 the Koralm line, two new local traffic bus stop directly to their doorstep. In passengers per day! In order to be hubs were built along the Southern addition, the buses of Graz Public more attractive still, the tram network Railway in Puntigam and Don Bosco. Transport, GVB, are role models as was lengthened by about four km bet- Here, commuters can connect to bus far as the environment is concerned. ween 2005 and the end of 2007. Tram and/or tramlines directly and in this Already in 1994, the city initiated the line no. 6 now runs to Peterstal and way comfortably reach their destina- project Ecodrive which aims at re- offers an attractive alternative to the tions in the city. placing diesel fuel with biodiesel de- car in this catchment area of rough- On February 1, 1999, the first tan- rived from old cooking oil. Today all ly 12,000 inhabitants. Line no. 4 was gential line, the ‘route 62’ was put into buses are fuelled with biodiesel only. lengthened by 1.3 km and now runs operation. It runs through six districts Furthermore, by the end of the year all the way to the shopping center in the western part of Graz. In the year 2006 all buses had been equipped Murpark, where a park & ride-facility 2000, ‘route 64’ was added to service with particle filters for the reduction of has been installed. In this way, com- the southern districts of the city. The particulate matter. muting, changing transport means city presently has an extensive net- and shopping are perfectly com- work of tangential lines comprising bined. Line no. 5 now turns around at the bus lines nos. 41, 50, 52, 58, 62, More Tramway the local traffic hub, Puntigam, which, 63 and 64. Since January 2003, in or- in 2006, started operations at the der to provide the ‘night owls’ with an In 1999, the electric tram celebrated same time as the opening of exten- alternative to the car, seven night bus its 100th anniversary in Graz. Today, ded tramline no. 5. There, commuters lines have been established which it is the foundation of a well functio- can easily change from train to bus or safely carry their passengers home ning public transport system. The tram. Residents and passengers alike during the early hours of the morning. trams run a total of 11.6 million km per appreciate the noise-insulating and Since 1997, at the last bus stop, a taxi year on a citywide integrated network vibration-free substructures.

- 18 - Gentle Mobility

Transport Association trian Federal Railway, ÖBB, which that passengers voted it the most (Verkehrsverbund) have been connecting Graz and the beautiful train station in Austria. Still surrounding region since 2004, are a today, a huge ceiling painting which On February 28, 1994, the Styrian good example of how the railway can was completed as part of ‘Graz: Eu- Public Transport Association was become the more attractive alternati- ropean Cultural Capital 2003’ evokes founded. The Transport Association ve to the road. The suburban railway a unique ambience in the central ent- is a cooperation between 63 Styrian was launched on December 12, 2007, rance hall. transport companies (as of 2008). with 71 new railway connections to During the reconstruction of the cen- Styria is divided into zones in such a Graz. tral train station, the conversion of way that with only one transport asso- The financing of the transport asso- the Southern Railway Lineto a high- ciation ticket (Verbundticket), several ciation system in the Graz region is performance line had already begun. zones can be crossed, a unified sys- shared between the State (33.33%), After completion, it will take less than tem for 1.2 million Styrians. Already the Province of Styria (42.43%) and one hour to travel between Graz and in the first year after launching the the City of Graz (24.24%). Klagenfurt. In addition, the railway new system, the number of passen- Owing to the fact that the boroughs line is going to be extended to the air- gers using public transport increased surrounding Graz contribute practi- port Thalerhof where connections will by 16%. More than 70 million pas- cally nothing towards the transport be underground so that the passen- sengers yearly now use the Styrian association lines, although the lines gers are offered a comfortable and Public Transport Association lines run through these very communities, easy journey to the city center. This (excluding schoolchildren) of which efforts are being made to establish a construction site has been in pro- 55 million use them in and around fairer funding key. gress since 2004, while the Koralm- Graz. Including schoolchildren, public Tunnel-Project is being undertaken transport in Graz alone carries more A Better Way within the time frame of 2008 to 2016. than 100 million passengers a year! The Styrian Public Transport Associ- of Travelling Abroad ation actively cooperates in the con- Commuters who have to cover gre- Railroads instead of Roads cept ‘Steirertakt’. Starting from 1996, at distances cannot help but use the rail traffic in the Graz region and railway services. This is why the Aus- In June 2003, construction on the its surroundings (train stations and trian Federal Railway, the City, the freight terminal Werndorf was com- stops) has consistently been made Province and the State are making pleted. Over an area of 500,000 m², more attractive. The goal is a subur- improvements in order to upgrade the freight traffic is transferred from road ban railway for the Graz region, an railway services. to rail. This service helps to decrease alternative for commuters consistent The central train station in Graz was truck traffic in the city of Graz and so with the concept ‘Gentle Mobility’. The reconstructed from July 2001 to Mar- contributes to the protection of the en- Desiro low-floor railcars of the Aus- ch 2003 in such an attractive way vironment.

Map of the network extension of tramlines Dynamic passenger information

- 19 - Highlights of the Tram Line Network

The local traffic hub Puntigam connects tram, rail and bus services with car and bicycle traffic.

Three tramlines were exten- also lengthened and since Decem- been lengthened by 1.8km and now ded between 2005 and 2007, ber 2006 passes through one of the runs through Petersgasse, Eisteich- underpasses to the new local traffic gasse, Breitenweg and Peterstal- adding 3.5 km to the network hub at Puntigam and has become an strasse to the Wienerberger residen- of tramlines in Graz . Commu- attractive link between the rail, tram, tial estate. Roughly 12,000 people ters, motorists and cyclists bus, bicycle and car. live in this catchment area and benefit as well as shoppers benefit from the extended tram line no.6. from this improvement. Changing Means of The city of Graz, the Province of Sty- Transport and Shopping ria, the State, HL- AG and other pro- any improvements were For commuters and for shoppers, ject participants dug deep into their made in public transport du- the tramline no. 4 was lengthened ring the period from 2005 to pockets in order to help out and pro- M by about 1.3 km and now leads up to mote the public transport system of 2007, even more improvements than the shopping center Murpark in the in 1986 when the tramline from Alt- Graz. The extension of line no. 6 cost district of Liebenau. There, people can Eggenberg to the Accident Hospi- park their car in the new park & ride 21.4 million Euros. Line no. 4 cost tal was lengthened . The network of facility and connect to public transport 10.4 million Euros and line no. 5 in- tramlines in Graz was extended by and/or go shopping in one of the 80 cluding the local-traffic hub cost 15.5 3.5 km. Cyclists, motorists as well as shops located in the shopping center million Euros. pedestrians benefit from these tram- Murpark. At night, the shopping line extensions. center’s 2000 parking places also serve as park & ride spaces for guests attending events in the city’s Faster Travel Local-Traffic Hub Exhibition Hall (Stadthalle) or in the inner city. In order to facilitate faster travel by How does it work? For instance, by tram and bus, the city has installed upgrading the Koralm line to a high performance railway leading south Line Extensions more bus and tram lanes. In additi- from Graz Central Railway Station, for the Residents of Graz on, the traffic lights sequences have seven new underpasses have been been set to correspond to the sche- built. Thereby, cars are no longer The tramline no. 6 was lengthened dules of bus and trams as another subjected to long periods of wai- from the previous last stop Schulzen- measure of speeding up journeys by ting at railway crossings. Pedestri- trum to Peterstal, not for commuters public transport. ans, cyclists and the car traffic now but for the residents of Graz. The line pass more easily from east to west. extension was constructed with a Thanks to the building of the new special low-vibration ‘Graz design’. Koralm line, the tram line no. 5 was Since November 2007, line no. 6 has

- 20 - Gentle Mobility Speed 30/50 km/h in Graz

Since the introduction of the risk of fatal accidents has decreased ticeably in the zone. The emissions 30 km/h zone in the year 1992, by up to 90%! of nitrogen oxides (NOx) could be reduced by 24% within the test zone the number of accidents has and by 2% throughout the city. The decreased and the quality of Fewer Injuries level of noise pollution subjectively life has greatly improved due perceived by residents living next to Today, 30km/h zones are met with a previously busy roads has decreased to the reduction in noise and high level of acceptance - the latest noticeably. exhaust emissions. expansion by 23 km at the end of 2003 (in 40 streets) was highly welcomed. he road network in Graz is 996 Currently, 80% of all roads in Graz More Traffic Security km long, (not including high- are designated 30km/h zones. On the Tways within the city limits). 802 remaining 20%, i.e. main and priority Probably due to more frequent speed km of the total are designated 30 roads, 80% of all traffic accidents in limit controls, speed levels at first de- km/h zones. Only main roads are 50 Graz occur. This improvement of the creased. However, as an increase in km/h zones. traffic situation, which has drawn in- the speed level has been observed ternational attention, was achieved in recent years. Since 2006, private The introduction of 30 km/h zones after running a pilot phase between speed controls have been encoura- proved to be the most hotly discussed September 1992 and August 1994 ged and supported in the zone in or- step on the way towards ‘Gentle Mo- and which showed extremely posi- der to further improve traffic safety. bility’- but at the same time, the most tive results. With the introduction of Initial rejection of the zone - in 1992, effective. This ‘deceleration’ policy the zone, the number of accidents fell only one in three motorists supported improved the quality of life in Graz by 24%, so that about 250 people per it- eventually gave way to wide appro- and increased traffic safety enor- year have been spared injury in traffic val. In 1994, two out of three people mously. In front of schools, the risk of accidents! were already in favor of the zone and accidents has halved due to the intro- In addition, the noise level and the today it has long proved its worth and duction of 30 km/h zones. Here, the exhaust emissions have reduced no- is no longer a topic of dispute.

Since 1992, 50 km/h are only allowed on main roads

- 21 - Short-term parking zone in the city offers 13,000 parking spaces. Environmentally friendly vehicles can park at reduced rates Parking in Graz

The concept of parking space available inside the limits of the ring the usual 80 cents per half hour. With management has proved to be road, 8,000 of which were transfor- these parking times, the city sends a an effective instrument for the med to the so-called ‘Blue Zone’ with signal of tolerance rather than of strict a maximum parking duration of three punishment. Only those who exceed management of motor vehicle hours. Ever since the last extension their parking period by more than 13 traffic. The goal remains to ef- of the Blue Zone in 2005, the city has minutes receive a fine. fectively shift commuter flows managed more than 13,000 parking to public transport. spaces, which, on weekdays between 9 a.m. and 8 a.m. (9 a.m. to 1p.m. on The Green Zone city has to be accessible; a city Saturdays), require a parking ticket needs parking spaces. This is costing 1.20 Euro per hour and have “Parking Space Management is the Awhy the city of Graz has ai- a maximum time limit of 3 hours. only effective means of convincing med at facilitating shopping traffic The Blue Zone extends to the rings people to change,” stated former Vice and promoting business traffic. At the roads, a distance which gently forces Mayor Erich Edegger. He introduced same time, it is problematic for all ci- commuters to make use of either park the Blue Zone, which was the fore- ties to guarantee a sufficient amount & ride facilities or of public transport runner of ‘Gentle Mobility’. In 2006, of parking spaces for all inhabitants, for their way to and from work. the ‘Green Zone’, a further parking shoppers and commuters. With the Inhabitants of Graz may purchase zone which practically surrounds the concept of ‘Gentle Mobility’, the main residents’ parking tickets, which per- Blue Zone, was introduced by the City goal was to shift the massive com- mit them long-term parking within the Councilor responsible for traffic, Ger- muter flows to public transport. The Blue Zone. Since the extension of the hard Rüsch. The Green Zone aims at space gained was to be designated Blue Zone and the introduction of re- stopping commuter cars, which cau- to cyclists, joggers, pedestrians and sidents’ tickets, the complaints about se major traffic problems in Graz, at children’s play areas. a lack of parking possibilities for re- the city limits and at reducing parking sidents have to a great extent stop- pressure in residential areas. The Blue Zone ped. A special lower rate (‘ecological When it was initiated in the summer of parking’) is charged for environmen- 2006, the Green Zones offered 8,000 This concept functioned well thanks to tally-friendly vehicles. These fulfill the parking spaces. Parking in the Green specific parking facility management Euro-IV Exhaust Emission Standard Zone costs 40 cents per half hour. To and parking facility policies. In 1995, and emit low levels of CO2. These park all day costs 5 Euros, but com- there were 12,500 parking spaces vehicles can park for 40 instead of muters may purchase a monthly ticket

- 22 - Gentle Mobility

The lower priced Green Zone adjoins the Blue Zone in the city center for 34 Euros and a yearly ticket is of- joy the cultural highlights of Graz as an alternative was never considered. fered for 324 Euros. there are now underground parking Instead, Graz came to the conclusion Residents only pay four Euros a facilities beneath Kunsthaus, a Muse- that the best alternative would be to month for a parking place inside the um of Contemporary Art, and Nikolai- establish park & ride facilities, where Green Zone, which ensures a gua- platz, the department store Kastner & commuters can easily and conveni- ranteed space for them. The Green Öhler and also below Karmeliterplatz ently transfer from car to public trans- Zone is actually an alternative model (the garage called Pfauengarten). port so as to get to their place of work to the city toll, which is implemented The shortage of parking spaces in the in the city. Several projects have al- in London or, for instance, Stockholm inner city, much complained about in ready been realized, such as the park and which should control the volu- the late 1990s, has finally been elimi- & ride facility in Andritz, the parking me of traffic. Graz does not want to nated. The parking garage Pfauen- garage near the company Magna ban traffic entirely from the city, but garten offers parking at very reaso- Steyr in Liebenau and the park & ride a system with a graduated increase nable cost, with parking tickets at an facility on Sternäckerweg, which went of parking tariffs aims at making the hourly rate of 2.2 Euros during day- into operation along with the extensi- change over to using ‘Gentle Mobi- time and one Euro per hour after 6:30 on of the tramway line no. 4 in March lity’ means of transport more attrac- p.m. The construction of this parking 2007. The park & ride facility at the lo- tive. The earnings from the Blue and garage enabled the conversion of cal traffic hub in Puntigam was com- Green Zones are spent on further two squares, Freiheitsplatz and Kar- pleted in 2008 and more projects are traffic policy measures. meliterplatz, into pedestrian-friendly to come, for example, in Graz-Web- areas. The entire Karmeliterplatz has ling and in Mariatrost at the eastern become a pedestrian zone; children access road to Graz. Parking Garages are happy with the water fountain in In order to win user acceptance for which they are allowed to splash and park & ride, the city offers tickets for In order not to negatively affect play and on Freiheitsplatz, cafés now the park & ride facilities at attractive shopping traffic, many underground offer inviting outside sitting areas. rates. The monthly ticket for the park parking garages were built between & ride facility at Sternäckerweg, for in- 2001 – 2005 offering hundreds of ad- stance, costs 53 Euros- and includes ditional parking spaces to those who Park & Ride the monthly ticket for public transport. shop in the inner city. Since 2004, This is only 16.90 Euros more than one can leave the car right in the cen- To take away parking possibilities the cost of a monthly ticket for public ter of the city and go shopping or en- from commuters without offering them transport alone!

- 23 - Graz Sets Trends

Since the year 2002, Graz has free transport at its best. Another been a partner in the most innovative improvement for passen- important EU program on fa- gers is an electronic system which coordinates the positions of buses cilitating and promoting inno- and trams through a control center. It vative traffic measures. ‘CIVI- helps to reduce the chances of pas- TAS Trendsetter Graz’ sets sengers just missing their connecting new trends in traffic policies bus or tram to a minimum. and extends the success sto- Since 2004, also thanks to the ‘Trend- ry of the concept ‘Gentle Mo- setter’ program, information on sche- bility’. dules and all questions concerning public mobility can be obtained at the n impressive total of 17 pro- mobility center in Jakoministrasse. jects regarding traffic policies Those who have no time to go there Ahas been realized in Graz can make use of the ‘Bus-Train-Tram thanks to the EU project ‘CIVITAS Information’ (BusBahnBim), the on- Trendsetter’. Together with the project line electronic schedule information partners Stockholm, Lille, Pecs and service of the Transport Associati- Prague, Graz implemented this EU on. The ‘Bus-Train-Tram Information’ program which was one of eight win- provides all tram schedules in Graz, Complete info on the schedule ning projects of the CVITAS tender of schedules of all regional bus lines the European Commission. The pro- in Styria, and also of the Austrian ject started in 2002 and was designed and international railway services. for a period of four years. In addition, the ‘Door-to-Door Infor- uring this time, a total of 12 mation’ navigation service shows million Euros was spent on the best possible route from point Dnew innovative strategies for A to destination B within the city li- a more environmentally friendly and mits of Graz. This can be found at more efficient urban traffic concept. www.busbahnbim.at Of this sum, 4.2 million Euros were It is no longer necessary to know the EU-funded. The result: The project name of a respective bus or tram ‘Trendsetter’ actually set new trends stop; one can enter a street name or in all areas of traffic. other points of orientation such as ho- tel names, churches, tourist sites or

Door- to –door information at Mobil Zentral event locations. At the end of 2005. Impulses in Public the electronic ‘Bus-Train-Tram Infor- Transportation mation‘ calculated about 15,000 con- nections per day. The highest investments were made in public transport. The introduction in 2003 of the night buses would not More Space for People have been possible without ‘Trend- setter’. Currently seven lines run suc- Pedestrians have also profited from cessfully through the night in Graz and ‘Trendsetter’. The reconstruction of meanwhile transport up to 100,000 the upper section of Neutorgasse, passengers per year. In order to avo- which resulted out of a citizen’s par- id tiresome waiting at bus stops, a ticipation process, was also imple- new electronic information system mented in connection with this EU has been installed which informs project. The street is now calmer, with the passengers of the schedule and less traffic, an ‘entrance-gate’ was tells them in how many minutes the constructed and it now ends in an next tram will arrive. In addition, ad- enlarged square for people’s recrea- aptations at bus and tram stops were tion. carried out to make them wheelchair- Even more space for people can be TThe E. Steininger-Steg is the longest bridge in Graz. accessible, in other words, barrier- found on Karmeliterplatz, which, in

- 24 - Europe

May 2005, became the latest desi- gap in the bicycle path along the river gnated pedestrian zone in Graz. Mur (Murradweg), as well as being The newly designed pedestrian zone a commitment to environmentally offers a water fountain where children friendly politics.) can play, benches for relaxation and ‘Trendsetter’ also explored mobility some trees. The close-by Freiheits- behavior in general and promoted platz (Liberty Square) today lives up mobility projects in companies in Graz to its name as during its re-design, whose objective it was to implement a parking spaces had to give way to change from car to bicycle use. people. Ten Maple trees, benches Information sessions, fitness cam- and a water fountain create a tranquil paigns, cycling events and lotteries and contemplative atmosphere on helped to reduce by 15% the proporti- Freiheitsplatz. on of those among participating com- panies who drive to work. And in order for small children to learn how to ride a bike and feel secure on More Comfort for Cyclists it, in 2004, ‘Trendsetter’ made it possi- ble for bicycle training to be offered in Cycling has long been a tradition in all primary schools. Ever since then, it Graz and is extremely popular not has become part of the standard pro- only because of its health-promoting gram offered to all young pupils. More traffic safety because of the 30 km/h limit aspects, but also because of the fact that cycling is environmentally friend- ly. The project ‘Trendsetter’ has inve- A Healthier Environment sted in further innovations in Graz for this means of ‘Gentle Mobility’. The Thanks to ‘Trendsetter’, apart from ‘Digital City Map for Cyclists’ provides the city buses, the taxis in Graz now information on the best cycling route run mainly on biodiesel. The fuel from A to B where the least traffic is which is derived from old cooking oil to be expected. Immediately after its is, because no fossil resources are opening, the ‘Elise-Steininger-Steg’, used, almost completely environmen- the underpass below Kepler Bridge, tally neutral, as far as exhaust emis- could be found on the digital city map sions are concerned. Furthermore, for cyclists. (The new underpass is Graz introduced the system of ‘Ecolo- the long-awaited solution to close the gical Parking’: The ‘Ecological Token’ Less CO2: Good for old and young

Project Ecodrive (Ökodrive): buses of Graz Transport Services and taxis in Graz are fuelled with biodiesel made from old cooking oil and are, therefore, CO2-neutral and more environmentally friendly - 25 - allows environmentally friendly ve- for vehicles with low emission The project turned out to be hicles which have low levels of CO2 levels or even zero emissions, profitable for all partners involved. emissions to pay 30% less for parking including the infrastructure neces- Every Euro spent on measures in the Blue Zone. For more safety on sary for their operation. Through its towards ‘Gentle Mobility’ such as the roads and still in the context of participation in SUGRE, the city has promoting public transport or bicycle ‘Trendsetter’, the city installed speed- strengthened its position as a know- traffic yields a profit of 10 Euros by measuring devices which inform car how provider in gentle and envi- reducing the burden of traffic on the drivers in the 30 km/h zone of their ronmentally friendly mobility. In this environment! actual speed. case, 21 European cities benefit from The introduction of the speed-measu- the expertise of the City of Graz. ring devices alone instigated a reduc- October 2005 was the start of the EU tion in average speed level of 5km/ project PIMMS. PIMMS stands for hour, the highest speeds were even ‘Partner Initiatives for the Develop- reduced by 20% - awareness raising ment of Mobility Management’. The in a ‘gentle way’. main issue was to find out how mo- bility management can be implemen- ted in a stronger and more effective way in regional transportation and „Green Bus Fleets“ environmentally friendly policies. Mo- bility management is understood as a Due to the successful participation demand-oriented approach with the More Cyclists in the first EU-projects on the topic objective of facilitating environmen- and Pedestrians ‘traffic’, the city continues to take part tally friendly mobility. in traffic-related EU programs. The Graz, Bromley (UK), Stockholm In February 2006, the EU- Commissi- follow-up to ‘Civitas Trendsetter’ is (Sweden), Serres (Greece), Terras- on project ASTUTE started. It has an called ‘SUGRE - Sustainable Green sa (Spain), Treviso (Italy), Almada ambitious goal: to raise the proportion Fleets’. The project aims at making (Portugal) and Frankfurt (Germany) of cyclists and pedestrians in traffic urban public transport environmen- were the participants in the PIMMS by 10% at the same time as reducing tally friendly. As during Trendset- project. In the framework of the pro- CO2 emissions by an equal 10%. Be- ter, the project Ökodrive (Ecodrive) ject, these cities had until May 2007 to sides Graz, Budapest (Hungary), Du- will be continued in cooperation carry out awareness raising activities blin (Ireland), Granada (Spain), Lon- with Graz AG (Grazer Stadtwerke - for choosing a means of transport, don (UK) and Syracuse (Italy) also Public Utility Services) and Graz to offer mobility education in schools participated in ASTUTE. Transport Services (GVB) which and to promote regional networking in A survey conducted by the British belongs to it. Ökodrive stands mobility management. government served as the basis for

‘Green’ bus fleets thanks to EU-projects AAwareness raising for more cyclists in Graz proves successful: A full parking place in front of Graz Central Railway Station.

- 26 - Europe the project. The survey concluded days allowed by the EU. Prize-Worthy that through improvements in mobi- Research has found out that traffic lity management, urban traffic could is responsible for at least two thirds The commitment is now paying off. be reduced by up to 21% during peak of the pollution from particulate Graz was awarded ‘CIVITAS City of periods. In addition, it was found that matter, from exhaust pipes, different the year 2008’– for its persistent, walking and cycling are the healthiest types of abrasion and resuspensi- exemplary efforts in searching for and most sustainable means of mo- on. A further cause is domestic fuel, innovative solutions for cleaner city vement (in the sense of less CO2 while the proportion of industry is traffic. emissions). The ASTUTE project la- negligible. The EU-LIFE project sted until January 2009. In the partici- KAPA GS (the Klagenfurt Anti- pating cities, the general acceptance PM10 action program carried out in EU-Programs in Graz towards walking and cycling increa- cooperation with Graz and sed and the number of pedestrians EU traffic programs have always South Tyrol) is all about set- been welcome in Graz. and cyclists rose in comparison to ting various measuresbased that at the start of the project. In ad- on the polluter-pays principle. dition, the burden of CO2 emissions From 2002 to 2006, the Mobility Whereas Bolzano focused on decreased. Center, a modern, schedule infor- bringing relief through traffic bans mation service, and barrier-free during peaks of particulate dust, Graz bus stops were established within aimed at reducing private moto- the framework of the CIVITAS rized transport. The Graz approach ‘Trendsetter’ project. Furthermo- did not place emphasis on traffic re, 100% of the bus fleet of the bans, but rather on making public Graz public transportation com- In addition, the support of companies, transport more attractive, by pany GVB changed to using bi- which clearly benefit from tailor-made optimizing street-cleaning as well as odiesel as fuel. In October 2005, mobility concepts, was an expected improving winter road clearance. PIMMS started, which focused on result. Domestic fuel is to be replaced by a change of views in the mobility sustainable methods of heating behavior. such as subsidized connections to Less Particulate Matter district heating. An integrated air- The ASTUTE project targeted a quality measurement network and reduction of the CO2 emissions Not only in the cities of Klagenfurt, a mathematical model in real-time in Graz through an increase in Graz and Bolzano are the limits for operation support the efforts of the the proportion of cyclists and pe- particulate matter (PM10) exceeded participating cities against the fine destrians in the traffic situation. in the winter period above the 35 dust particles.

The local- traffic hub Don Bosco makes connecting to bus, tramway and railway services attractive– every car less helps to reduce fine dust.

- 27 - Data of Graz and it‘s Traffi c Area 127,6 km 2

Inhabitants** about 310.000

• thereof Principal Residents* 257.898

• thereof Women 133.899

• thereof Men 123.999

Households 105.826

Employees 183.393

Companies 10.692

Individual Transport*

Commuters about 136.000 with more than 100.000 Pkw

Vehicles 146.923

• thereof Cars 117.206

Persons per Car 1,22

Cars/1.000 Inhabitants 473

Road Network 1.100 km

• thereof Streets with Right of Way 194 km

Traffic Lights 268

Computer Controlled Traffic Lights 168

Parking Sites within Limited Parking Area 21.800

Parking Sites in Underground Garages 10.500

Net of Bycicle Routes > 110 km

Pedestrian Areas 53.000 m2

Parking Sites within the „Blue Zone“ Blue Zone: 14.300

Parking Sites within the „Green Zone“ Green Zone: 7.500

Public Transportation*

Net of Tramway Routes 49 km

Net of Bus Routes 343 km

Number of Tramway Lines 8

Number of Bus Lines 37

Kilometers per Year (Public Transportation) 11,4 Millionen

Transported Persons per Year 98,2 Millionen

• thereof with Tramway 52,3 Millionen

Amount of Fare Dodgers 4,3 % Imprint: Modal Split* City of Graz, Car Drivers 35,7 % The Executive Office for Urban Plan- Car Passengers 9,5 % ning, Development and Construction European Programmes and Public Transportation 19,9 % International Cooperation Unit Cyclists 16,1 % Supported by the Eropean Union Pedestrians 18,8 % Pictures: Transport Safety* 2008 2009 G. Ablasser, H. Falk, T. Fischer, Accidents with Persons Injured 2.107 1.996 H. Steiner, Magistrat, ÖBB. Persons Hurt in Road Traffic 2.592 2.405 Text: Thomas Stanzer Persons Killed in Road Traffic 12 4 Layout: Irene Brischnik Translation: Bakk.phil. Nicola Baloch Accidents with Pedestrians Involved 280 224

Accidents with Cyclists Involved 442 434

* Stand 2009, ** Stand 2010