Cycling.connects

The 12th edition of the Austrian Cycling Summit is held under the general motto “cycling.connects”. This motto, which can be interpreted in many ways, was chosen deliberately to indicate that the topic cycling is indeed multifaceted.
In order to reflect this versatility in the program of the Cycling Summit, an open call for papers and posters was conducted. A high number of high-quality abstracts was submitted, and thus the participants of the Cycling Summit can look forward to over 50 interesting presentations. In addition, the bicycle-theft-workshop of the Urban Mobility Lab Graz, the Expo-area with a variety of exhibition booths of cycling-related companies and initiatives, as well as the poster / balloon session offer plenty of possibilities for knowledge exchange and networking.

This year’s keynote-speeches focus on cities – Graz, Ljubljana and Groningen. Three cities with similar framework conditions regarding inhabitants, built-up area, and topography, take noticeably different approaches when it comes to preparing suitable conditions for bicycle transport. What connects them, what distinguishes them from each other, and what conclusions can we draw? The keynote-speakers Bernhard Wieser (Science, Technology and Society Unit at Graz University of Technology), Robert Huigen (City of Groningen), Aglaée Degros (Institute for Urbanism at Graz University of Technology), Barbara Urban and Helmut Spinka (City of Graz), Janez Koželj (Deputy-Mayor of the City of Ljubljana) and Ruth Oldenziel (Eindhoven University of Technology) provide insights into the past, present, and future of these cities.

Another highlight of this year’s Cycling Summit is the cooperation with “CityRadeln Graz”, a cycling parade through the city of Graz, finishing with a cyclists’ party in the famous venue “Dom im Berg”. On the last day of the Cycling Summit, interesting excursions invite to explore the local peculiarities and characteristics of Graz from a cyclist’s point of view.