Condition Assessment of Cycling Infrastructure – A Step towards a Systematised Approach in Austria

Markvica, Karin and Portisch, Stefan and Wieser, Dominik and Fürstler, Christian and Stögerer, Manuela and Saleh, Peter (2026) Condition Assessment of Cycling Infrastructure – A Step towards a Systematised Approach in Austria. EVERYBODY PLANS ... SOMETIMES. Cherish Heritage, Plan Now, Create a Better Future! Proceedings of REAL CORP 2026, 31st International Conference on Urban Development, Regional Planning and Information Society. pp. 269-277. ISSN 2521-3938

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Abstract

In Austria, regular condition assessments of roads and civil engineering structures have long been established, while cycling infrastructure has often been neglected. However, an efficient, safe, and continuous cycling infrastructure is an essential prerequisite for promoting cycling and shifting journeys to this mode of transport. There are currently considerable differences between the responsible local authorities in terms of the regularity of condition surveys, the parameters recorded, their level of detail, and the survey methods used. While regular condition assessments are planned for tourist cycle routes, such as EuroVelo routes, there is a lack of uniform and binding specifications for everyday cycling infrastructure. Regardless of the type of cycling facility, a reliable, up-to-date, and comparable database is essential for planning, maintenance, and quality assurance. It enables the early identification of gaps in the network, infrastructural deficits, and deviations from applicable safety and design guidelines. In addition, continuous updating of the Graph Integration Platform (GIP) as the central reference system for public administration for transport infrastructure data is necessary, which requires structured and regular feedback from the responsible authorities. Against this backdrop, a research project funded by the Austrian Road Safety Fund (VSF) investigates the development of an efficient, objective, and comparable methodology for recording cycling infrastructure. To this end, online surveys were conducted among cycling officials and GIP representatives in the federal states, and supplementary expert discussions were held. Based on 27 relevant quality and safety parameters identified in the specialist literature, ten key parameters were defined in consultation with an interdisciplinary advisory board. In addition, a concept was developed for uninterrupted, sensor-based condition surveys using a cargo bike, and criteria for a continuous cycling infrastructure were defined. Pilot applications in 2026 will serve to evaluate and further develop the methodology in terms of its practical applicability and significance.

Item Type:	Article
Uncontrolled Keywords:	cycling infrastructure , condition assessment , Graph Integration Platform (GIP), Austria, mobility
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HE Transportation and Communications T Technology > T Technology (General)
Depositing User:	The CORP Team
Date Deposited:	08 Apr 2026 19:10
Last Modified:	08 Apr 2026 19:10
URI:	http://repository.corp.at/id/eprint/1358

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