Cycling Network Meeting 2026: INNOVAMETALL in dialogue with municipalities and cycling officers

Freistadt / Linz. Daniela and Ludwig from the INNOVAMETALL sales team attended this week’s Cycling Network Meeting at the Upper Austria Culture Quarter in Linz, returning with valuable insights, new contacts and a special winner in their luggage.

Cycling is one of the most dynamic topics in Austrian municipal policy, and the Cycling Network Meeting at the Upper Austria Culture Quarter in Linz brings together every year those who actively shape this field: cycling officers, municipal representatives, planners and companies offering suitable infrastructure solutions. For us, it was therefore a given to take part.

What municipalities expect from cycling infrastructure today. 

In addition to the expert presentations, it was above all the direct exchange that shaped the day. “Between the presentations, there was naturally also the opportunity to make new contacts, exchange knowledge and get to know the needs and expectations of municipalities and cycling enthusiasts,” reports Ludwig. These insights flow directly into product development and consulting at INNOVAMETALL.

The range of topics discussed extended from the planning of new bicycle parking facilities to requirements regarding durability and low maintenance, as well as questions of funding and budget planning at the municipal level. INNOVAMETALL was able to demonstrate its many years of experience in metal construction and bicycle infrastructure.

The “last mile” problem: infrastructure as the key. 

One topic ran like a common thread through the discussions: public transport and cycling are only a real alternative to cars if the surrounding infrastructure works. Covered parking facilities and secure locking options are essential for people to use their bicycles for the journey to the train station or bus stop in the first place. Only when the bike can be parked at the destination dry, secure against theft and conveniently does the so-called “last mile” problem begin to dissolve – that often underestimated distance between the stop and the actual destination, which determines the success or failure of mobility concepts. With covered bicycle parking systems and metal bike racks, the “last mile” problem can be addressed in a very practical way: if people can park their bikes safely and protected from the weather at train stations or bus stops, they are far more likely to switch to cycling on a daily basis.

Raffle as the highlight of the event. 

As a sponsor of the event, INNOVAMETALL provided a bicycle parking system for the final raffle. The excitement during the drawing of the winning ticket was palpable, and we warmly congratulate the municipality of Freistadt on winning the bicycle parking system.

Photos: © INNOVAMETALL