#MeterMachen together: Austria embarks on the European Mobility Week 2026

9 September 2026 #MeterMachen together: Austria embarks on the European Mobility Week 2026 Mobility for all generations at the heart of Europe's largest mobility campaign

From 16 to 22 September, the European Mobility Week will take place once again across Austria. With this year's motto "Mobility for all generations", several hundred cities, municipalities, educational institutions, companies, and organisations are set to deliver a united message for active, safe, and affordable mobility.

With more than 450 participating municipalities, Austria has been one of the strongest participating countries in Europe for years and plays a pioneering role within the European Union. During the action week, hundreds of events will take place nationwide, ranging from school streets and bicycle parades to mobility fairs and city walks, as well as initiatives promoting accessibility and mobility suitable for all generations.

Mobility Minister Peter Hanke emphasised the significance of the campaign at the joint launch with representatives from cities and mobility partners: "Mobility means participation. It enables the journey to school, to work, to friends, or to important appointments. With this year's focus on 'Mobility for all generations', we are highlighting that sustainable mobility solutions can be available for everyone, from children to seniors, from urban areas to rural regions. The European Mobility Week showcases each year anew the immense innovation and commitment that exists within Austria's cities and municipalities."

Mobility for all generations

The annual motto for 2026 places the diverse mobility needs of people at the centre. Issues such as mobility poverty, independent mobility of children and adolescents, barrier-free offers, safe school routes, and mobility in old age are particularly highlighted.

"The Austrian transport associations provide people of all generations with low-threshold access to sustainable mobility through their offerings and offer a wide range of mobility solutions, including public transport services by bus and rail, demand-oriented services such as call-taxis, ride-sharing, and bike-sharing," says Karin Zipperer, member of the Austrian Mobility Associations Presidium. "The varied actions of the transport associations for the European Mobility Week make these offerings even more accessible and support an entry into a sustainable mobility system for all."

A crucial role is played by public transport as a link between various mobility offers.

"Austria is a railway nation - and the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) is the backbone of a mobility that connects people and enables social participation," asserts Sabine Stock, Executive Director of ÖBB Passenger Transport. "Our goal is to make rail travel simple, reliable, and attractive for all generations - both in cities and rural areas. The European Mobility Week impressively demonstrates the importance of strong public transport services for a connected society."

Mobility for all generations, however, encompasses more than a good transport offering. It also significantly contributes to social participation and quality of life. Public spaces should be places of encounter, and mobility offerings should be designed to be accessible and independently usable by all generations.

For Michael Kögl, Deputy Mayor of St. Pölten and Chairman of the Municipal Association's Transport Advisory Committee, it is clear, especially after a sizzling summer like this one: "It is incredibly important to enable sustainable mobility. Whether by foot, by bicycle, or by public transportation - cities show how climate-fit mobility works. It therefore requires continued joint effort at all levels to successfully bring pedestrian, bicycle, and public transport into the future."

A special highlight of the European Mobility Week is the mobility bingo. It is an invitation to try sustainable mobility in everyday life in a low-threshold way. Participants complete simple mobility challenges on their bingo cards and collect five fields in a row. Attractive prizes are drawn from all submissions, including a ClimateTicket.

Highlight on Car-Free Day

The action week traditionally concludes with the Car-Free Day on 22 September. On this day, streets and squares across Austria will be opened to people and temporarily closed to motorised individual traffic. Municipalities thus demonstrate how public spaces can be utilised for encounter, movement, and quality of life.