Traffic Saving Wienerwald (Verkehrsparen Wienerwald)

Best Practice

Topics

• Mobility
• Regional value added

Short description

26 municipalities in Lower Austria are members of the Verkehrspar-Gemeinden (=traffic saving communities). The main objectives are reducing at least 10% car drives as well as emissions of carbon dioxide. The most important part is to create more public awareness for a car free mobility. Various soft mobility measures were developed to change the modal split of the residents.

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Project executive

State of Lower Austria, Department of General Transport Issues (RU 7), DI Christoph Westhauser

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Participants

State of Lower Austria and the following municipalities: Alland, Bad Vöslau, Baden, Breitenfurt, Brunn am Gebirge, Eichgraben, Gaaden, Gablitz , Gießhübl, Gumpoldskirchen, Guntramsdorf, Hinterbrühl, Kaltenleutgeben, Klausenleopoldsdorf, Klosterneuburg, Königstetten, Maria Anzbach, Mödling , Neulengbach, Perchtoldsdorf , Pfaffstätten, Pottenstein, Pressbaum, Purkersdorf, Tulln, Wolfsgraben, Verband der Niederösterreichischen Dorf- und Stadterneuerung (Association for Redevelopment of Villages in Austria), Mag. Michael Praschl (Projektbegleitung), Herry Consult GmbH (data of mobility), Verkehrsverbund Ostregion (Public Transport Association Lower Austria, Vienna, Burgenland)

Objectives

The main objective of the project is the reduction of emissions of carbon dioxide from motorised private transport in the 26 participating municipalities. On the basis of the available data and taking account of the current trend, a reduction of transport-related CO2-emissions by 5 to 8% is defined as the main target of the project. At least 10% of all car drives in the "Wienerwald"-municipalities should be reduced.

Activities

KONTIV-inquiry in all 26 communities about mobility and modal split, a pilot community (Langenlois) was selected, the data of Langenlois and of all other communities was evaluated, project-teams in all communities were set up, a programme of actions was set up, also start-up actions, an ideas competition, games, festivities, public relations, "Wienerwald bicycles", comprehensive Verkehrspar-campaign. Measures to sentisise local opinion leaders were initiated and the relevant needs and requirements were identified - followed by the definition of local and regional key projects. To that effect emissions of carbon dioxide should be reduced as well. These aims should be achieved by strenghtening the public awareness about mobility. It should easily be possible to use the bike or to walk for short distances. This 4 years lasting campaign also contents car-sharing, car-pooling, using the public transport and petrol saving manners of driving. According to this cycling and walking also vitalises the local economies. (1) cycling: Most daily routes are very short, walking or cycling could be quadruplicated in the Verkehrsspar-communities. (2) walking: A high rate of car drives is shorter than 1 kilometer. Walking is often faster than using a car. Walking can also contribute to one's well-beeing. (3) Public transport: More information is needed, also the supply of busses o.e. can be improved if necessary. (4) purchase and utilisation of cars: Choose a car with low petrol consumption and try a petrol saving manner of driving. (5) avoide and reduce daily routes (6) Mobility management in companies and schools

Process

In 1997 the Government of the Federal State of Lower Austria decided in its Transport Plan to implement the concept of a "traffic saving community". The Department for General Transport Issues of the Office of the State Government of Lower Austria was charged with the realisation of this project. In 1999 after the preparation period the municipalitiy of Langenlois in Lower Austria became a pilot municipality and initiated the first practical attempt in the form of an applied research project. The results of the project in Langenlois have let the State of Lower Austria to extend the strategy to the whole Wienerwald region. The preparation for the regional implementation started in 2002. 26 municipalities declared their interest in participation.

Results

The project is not terminated yet. The most important expected result is a reduction of car drives and a reduction of carbon dioxide emissions in the participating municipalities. This result can be achieved by a change of the modal split.

Evaluation

The pilot project in Langenlois was evaluated. The Verkehrspar Wienerwald has got an ongoing monitoring, the success will be controlled. Almost 90% of the inhabitants of Langenlois know the pilot project "Verkehrsparen Langenlois" (year 2002), in 2000 77% knew it. The modal split has changed in Langenlois: in 1998 72% of all rides were done by car, 4 years later the percentage could be reduced to 60%! The quota of bicycle rides increased from 3% to 14%! In Langenlois the carbon dioxide emissions could be reduced by 5% a day (more than 700 tons a year).

Difficulties

no information yet

Budget

2, 1 Million € (Euro)

Financial backer

State of Lower Austria, Department of General Transport Issues (RU7), The project in Langenlois was also financed by the Federal Ministry of Transport, Innovation and Technology, the Federal ministry of Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Watermanagement, the Association for Redevelopment of Villages in Austria, the Municipality of Langenlois, the NÖN, EVN, KfU and Klimabündnis.

Source of information

Competition

Participant at the 2005 Future in the Alps competition

Homepage

http://www.vspar.at http://www.klimaaktiv.at/

Project executive as above

Comments

Impact on nature and environment

The Wienerwald region ist situated in the West of Vienna. It is a sensitive region which is exposed to a high settlement pressure and a high usage pressure as a recreational area close to a big city. The region has also transport problems. A part of the region is nominated to Natura 2000. The establishment of a biosphere park is inplanning state. The modal split has changed in Langenlois. In 1998 72% of all rides were done by car, 4 years later the percentage could be reduced to 60%! The quota of bicycle rides increased from 3% to 14%! In Langenlois the carbon dioxide emissions could be reduced by 5% a day (more than 700 tons a year). The NOx-Emissions could also be reduced by 24% a day, the hydrocarbon emmissions were reduced by 33% a day. Unfortunately particulate matter was increased (!) by 19% a day.

Economic value added

An increase of traffic safety is possible. The cost-benefit-calculation of the project must be positive. The promotion of the local economy was also one of the aims. Verkehrsparen requires a working regional and local economy. The project Wienerwald-bicycle generated a sales volume of 100.000 Euro.

Socio-cultural value added

All residents of all municipalities have the possibility to take part in working groups. There are equal men and women in the working groups, young and old people as well.

Innovative content

The special character of this project is derived from the fact that the objectives are not primarily accomplished by means of technological or infrastructural improvements but through a long-term change in user behaviour. Incentives are given to reduce transport, no prohibitions.

Good governance

Support of persons in charge that belong to the municipalities, intallation and co-ordination of comprehensive working groups in all municipalities, multipliers in all municipalities.

PR impact

congresses, workshops, ideas competition, internet, handbook, brochures, city marketing, festivities, winner in several competitions (Lokale Agenda 21, Best Practice of OECD, Car-free day, Verkehrsclub Österreich Mobilitätspreis), municipal newspapers and homepages, NÖN (Newspaper of Lower Austria), folders, information campaigns in all participating municipalities, professional advertisment campaign

Multiplier effect / networking

Meetings of municipalities, co-operation with Klimabündnis (projects like Zweirad.freirad", green miles, mobility management in companies and schools,...), co-operation with the City of Vienna (in order to enlarge the cycle tracks), co-operation with the Verkehrsverbund Ostregion, mobility managment in schools: pupils and teachers are multipliers.

Transferability

The project Verkehrsparen Wienerwald is the first that implements a methodology at regional level which has been used only at local level so far. This demonstrates its transferability to other regions and municipalities. It was also very important that projects would be cheap, so that other municipalities can copy those projects easily.

Further information