1st Austrian Pedestrian Summit

How can walking be made more attractive and safer for people in Austria? And what perspectives does pedestrian planning open up? On September 23 and 24, 2025, the 1st Austrian Pedestrian Summit at Congress Graz sent a clear signal for walking as an independent mode of mobility. Organized by the Austrian Federal Ministry of Innovation, Mobility, and Infrastructure as part of the climate-protection initiative klimaaktiv mobil, and held in cooperation with the Province of Styria and the City of Graz, the conference brought together representatives from cities, municipalities, and regions with planners, advocacy groups, and stakeholders from academia and industry to discuss new approaches to safe, appealing, and people-centered pedestrian planning. The cross-university Center for Active Mobility at Graz University of Technology and the University of Graz contributed to the session “Lively Streets, Thriving Economies—Walking as an Economic Driver.” At their joint exhibition stand, the center presented ongoing research projects across three thematic fields and outlined future-oriented perspectives on climate-change adaptation, health, and a positive culture of mobility.

Barbara Holler