Three Quarters of Viennese People Travel in an Environmentally Friendly Way
Over 75% of the journeys made by the residents of Vienna in the capital are conducted in an environmentally and climate-friendly way. Public transport is the preferred mode of transportation at 34%, followed by walking at about 30%. Cycling also shows a remarkable increase, now reaching 11%. The figures not only demonstrate climate-conscious behavior but also the success of the city's mobility initiatives. Car traffic has decreased to 25%, the lowest value since the recording of the modal split. For comparison: in 1993, the share was 40%.
Wide Range of Public Transport and Cycling Paths: Residents of Vienna Travel Environmentally Friendly
"Our efforts over the past years are paying off, the residents of Vienna rely on public transport, cycling, and walking for their daily journeys and take advantage of our wide and attractive offerings. Last year alone, we invested around 52 million in cycling infrastructure, and the number of cyclists is continuously increasing. We combine the expansion of environmentally friendly mobility with our intensive 'Out of the Asphalt' projects, through which we unseal, cool, and green spaces and streets throughout the city, thus further enhancing the quality of life and stay for everyone - a win-win for all. Furthermore, in this legislative period, we have launched 3 new tram lines, further boosting public transport," says Mobility Councillor Ulli Sima, pleased with the increase in environmentally friendly modes of transport.
The managing director of Wiener Linien, Alexandra Reinagl, attributes the positive changes in the modal split to the improvements in quality and the expansion of public transport: "With full commitment, the employees of Wiener Linien work to provide the residents of Vienna with a world-class public transport system. The increase in the use of public transport compared to previous years highlights that public transport is the backbone of climate-friendly mobility in the city. A reliable mobility offering at fair prices makes us one of the best public transport networks in the world. This is exactly what characterizes a livable city."
"More and more residents of Vienna are traveling in a climate-friendly and active manner. An attractive, green public space, safe paths for walking, and an efficient public transport network make environmentally friendly mobility the best choice in everyday life. This is also reflected in the current modal split - Vienna is on the right track. Our growing network of cycling paths is enthusiastically embraced, as safe and comfortable connections make cycling suitable for everyday use. Every new route enhances the quality of life and brings Vienna closer to the goal of a climate-fit city. We are driving this change with full determination - a bicycle-friendly city is a win for everyone," says NEOS Vienna Mobility Spokesperson Angelika Pipal-Leixner.
More and More Residents of Vienna Using Bicycles and Public Transport
Vienna benefits from the expansion of cycling infrastructure. In 2024, over half a million more cyclists were recorded at 17 counting stations compared to the previous year. The share of cycling in the modal split rose to 11%. Since 2019, the share of daily journeys made by bicycle has increased from seven to eleven percent. "Our cycling initiative is bearing fruit, the investments of recent years are showing their effect. We focus on closing gaps and creating fast cycling connections to make everyday cycling convenient and safe for everyone," says Sima. A few days ago, the cycling expansion program for 2025 was presented. For this year, over 20 km of new cycling paths in the main network are planned. In the current legislative period, a total of 100 km of new cycling infrastructure has been created or initiated.
The residents of Vienna most frequently use public transport, with 34 percent, which forms the backbone of the city's mobility system. The expansion of these transport services remains a priority. Wiener Linien Managing Director Alexandra Reinagl emphasizes that investments in the network, modern equipment, and route extensions enable environmentally friendly and comfortable journeys. In addition to the extensions of U2 and U5, new tram lines such as 12, 18, and 27 are also being developed.
Viennese Enjoy Walking
In Vienna, 30% of trips are made on foot, which is above the pre-Corona level. Walking and public transport are closely linked, as over 90% of public transport users walk to the stop. Master plans promote pedestrian traffic in almost all districts. Initiatives such as the redesign of Thaliastraße into a climate boulevard with wide sidewalks and new plantings support this trend.
Decline in Car Traffic in Vienna
Since the start of the modal split survey in 1993, such a low level of car usage has never been recorded in Vienna. The motorization rate for private cars is the lowest among the Austrian states, with 284 cars per 1,000 inhabitants. Nationwide, it is 484 per 1,000. Just over half of Viennese households own a car, while car sharing is gaining popularity. The current modal split shows that only 25% of daily trips are made by car, while 77% of commuters cross the city limits by car and only 23% by public transport. Particularly regrettable is Lower Austria's cancellation of the planned line 72 to Schwechat, which would have been attractive for commuters.
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