2023-08-07 21:02:00
The climate alliance community of Ottnang am Hausruck also sees itself as a “bicycle community”. A separate working group, coordinated by community leader Michael Hörmandinger (Greens), is trying to make everyday cycling more attractive for the population. The municipality provides the working group with 4,000 euros per year. This year, a charging and a service station as well as a practical bicycle stand at the municipal office will be financed with it.
The working group also does awareness work. An information campaign is currently underway calling on motorists to keep the prescribed minimum distance when overtaking cyclists. Since an amendment to the law last October, this has been 1.5 meters in the local area and two meters outside the local area. “This means that when overtaking, drivers often have to switch completely to the oncoming lane,” says Ottnang bicycle officer Franz Hirsch.
“Overtaking with too little distance is not only extremely uncomfortable for cyclists, but has also been proven to be dangerous, says Hörmandinger. “Last year there were 34,869 accidents on Austria’s roads with 43,262 injuries, including 10,871 cyclists, 44 of whom were killed. 10.9 percent of the accidents were caused by insufficient lateral clearance. We therefore appeal to be considerate when overtaking cyclists by keeping your distance. We ask cyclists to use cycle paths wherever possible.” It goes without saying that the working group calls for more safe cycle paths. “We have already submitted an offer to the municipal leadership for the planning of a suitable main cycle route through the municipal area,” says Hörmandinger .(ebra)
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