Grossglockner High Alpine Road: Campaign launched against cyclists

Specifically, cyclists will only be allowed to use the panoramic road in the Austrian Alps early in the morning and from 3 p.m. in the afternoon. The campaign launched by the operating company Grohag is justified by those responsible with safety concerns, as around 80 per cent of the 25,000 or so cyclists who use the road each year are currently travelling at rush hour. In comparison, the road sees almost one million visitors and around 280,000 motorised vehicles such as cars, motorbikes and buses every year. The Grossglockner High Alpine Road, which winds its way through the impressive Alpine landscape for 48 kilometres, is not only popular with motorists, but has also become a mecca for ambitious cyclists in recent years. The Fuscher-Törl, one of the highlights of the route, is a popular destination for many sports-mad cyclists. The planned restriction of cycle traffic to off-peak times now represents a cut in this established cycling culture.

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Safety concerns and traffic management

The operators of the High Alpine Road see the increase in cycle traffic during peak traffic times as a significant safety risk. "Ideally, the ascent should take place early in the morning between 6:00 and 7:00 a.m. - but by 8:00 a.m. at the latest - or alternatively from 3:00 p.m. in the afternoon," recommends Johannes Hörl, CEO of Grohag. At these times, the volume of traffic is significantly lower, which both increases safety and makes the experience of nature more intense, according to a corresponding press release. The campaign aims to equalise traffic flows and minimise potential conflicts between motorised vehicles and cyclists. The road managers argue that the winding route reaches its capacity limits, especially in the summer months. The combination of slower cyclists and faster motorised vehicles leads to dangerous overtaking manoeuvres and increases the risk of accidents. By shifting cycle traffic to off-peak times, those responsible hope to increase safety for all road users. According to the operating company, bicycles are involved in a third of accidents. What sounds like a lot in terms of weighting is put into perspective when you look at the actual number: according to the Austrian daily newspaper "Der Standard", there were 13 accidents with personal injury on the Glocknerstraße in 2023 that only involved motor vehicles; accidents involving bicycles and personal injury were recorded at six in 2023.

Criticism from the cycling lobby and the Greens

The Grossglockner High Alpine Road campaign is already meeting with considerable resistance from the cycling lobby and environmental organisations. Critics see the measure as an unjustified disadvantage for cyclists and fear negative effects on cycle tourism in the region. The campaign by Hochalpenstraßen AG has been criticised by the Green Party. Instead of marginalising cycle tourists, they should be supported: "This reduces car traffic, protects nature and relieves local residents of noise and exhaust fumes," says Martina Berthold, leader of the Green Party in the regional parliament, in "Der Standard". She proposes one car-free day per month on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road: "On the car-free day, all cyclists could cycle safely and undisturbed through the Hohe Tauern National Park. At the same time, this offer would ease traffic on the other days."

Harald Gaukel, chairman of Radlobby Salzburg, criticises the campaign because it is only aimed at cyclists and not at all user groups, Der Standard reports further: "The fact that cyclists are named as the problem without also appealing to the consideration of motorists is to be expected from a toll road operator. However, I know from my own experience that the danger usually comes from cars and motorbikes that can't wait until they have enough visibility and space to overtake." The 85-year-old legendary coach Gunnar Prokop (handball and athletics) also expressed his indignation in an article in the Kronen-Zeitung: "We cyclists are only being discriminated against" and in the same breath announced that he would be cycling on the Glocknerstraße "again this year".

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Impact on tourism

The planned restriction of cycle traffic could also have an impact on tourism in the region. The Grossglockner High Alpine Road is not only an important transport artery, but also a significant economic factor for the surrounding communities. Critics fear that the restrictions for cyclists could lead to a decline in cycle tourism, which in turn would have negative consequences for the local economy. Cycling associations and environmental organisations are proposing various measures as an alternative to the planned time slots. These include the creation of cycle lanes, speed limits for motorised vehicles or the introduction of car-free days. These proposals are aimed at slowing down traffic on the High Alpine Road and making it safer without excluding certain road users. The discussion about the future of cycle traffic on the Grossglockner High Alpine Road illustrates the conflict between different forms of mobility in the Alpine region. It remains to be seen how the operators will react to the criticism and whether alternative solutions will be considered that take into account both safety aspects and the needs of all road users.