Mobility and climate protection

Mobility contributes significantly to the CO2 emissions of an event. It is therefore important to consider specific measures to reduce these emissions as early as the planning phase. A good starting point is to choose an event venue with good public transport connections.
 

Participants are already informed in event promotion about climate-friendly travel to and from the event location. The information can be communicated directly in the invitation or via a link that leads to a landing page with all the information:

• Connection to long-distance transport and local public transport with arrival times and frequencies.
• Distance between station and event location. A route planner can be integrated here.
• People with disabilities are dependent on reliable information about accessibility from event organisers. Example: ÖBB has information about accessible travel on its website that can be used in event communication.
• Further information that supports a climate-friendly journey, e.g. mobility apps from local transport providers etc.

Practical tip: Participants are already informed about climate-friendly travel to and from the event via the landing page.

If event times are optimally coordinated with the arrival and departure times of public transport, participants are more likely to take advantage of this offer. This can already be mentioned in the invitation to make it easier for participants to decide and to make an environmentally friendly journey attractive from the outset.

Although the responsibility for travel to and from an event lies with the participants themselves, a clear position from the organisers can be a decisive motivator. By actively recommending and supporting the use of public transport, organisers send out a strong signal:

Ideas & tips:

• Reduced entry fees for those arriving and leaving via public transport. 
• Use of the ÖBB-Kongresskonto by organisers enables discounted travel.
• Motivation by offering rewards for travel via public transport (raffles, drinks vouchers, etc.).
• Event tickets in cooperation with train and bus companies.
• Active persuasion and motivation towards environmentally friendly travel for participants and organising teams.
• Reservation of train and bus tickets for participants.

Practical tip: At one event, as a reward for using public transport all participants received a free day pass to the coworking space, which in this case was also the event venue.

Side events & excursions are planned in such a way that they can be reached by all participants on foot, by bike or by public transport or can be organised with a collective shuttle service.

Practical tip: When looking for suitable side events, it is also worth thinking about unconventional places. These may be easier to reach and also provide an element of surprise. One example of this is the underground car park of the main location as a space for a session on the topic of mobility.

Tips and ideas to motivate and support participants on-site:

• Free public transport tickets: Organisers can offer event participants a free ticket for use of Vorarlberg public transport over the duration of the event. The tickets can be arranged in advance, [CT1] and we’re happy to help you apply for this.
• All participants are informed about the possibility of using public transport (including timetables, bus stops, etc.) or other environmentally friendly alternatives on site (bike hire, etc.) when the event is advertised, but at the latest when they register (e.g. via a landing page with all the information on sustainability at the event).
• Free bikes or e-scooters are available on-site. Find out at the locations regarding the feasibility of this. Practical tip: Festspielhaus Bregenz provides bicycles for the duration of an event for travelling to accommodation, to the city centre or for short tours along the shores of Lake Constance.
• Taxi services with alternatives to petrol are offered on site (e.g. hybrid, electric, bicycle rickshaws or shared shuttle services to accommodation).

If the event involves several venues, they should be within walking distance of each other or easily accessible by bike or public transport during the event times, or a shared shuttle should be organised.

All accommodation offered or advertised for participants is selected so that the event location can be reached on foot, by bicycle or by public transport. All participants are informed of how best to reach the accommodation.

Here it’s about raising awareness and recognising potential for improvement.

In the modal split, the means of transport used by all participants to get to the event are recorded. The data can be used to identify possible changes in travel behaviour in the future and can also encourage participants to think about their chosen means of transport

For such recording or information collection there are various options:

• Via an online survey, which visualises the results in real-time (e.g. Mentimeter or Slido).
• Via a poster on-site which lists the means of transport; participants place a sticker for the respective means of transport
• Via a show of hands

There are several ways of calculating the greenhouse gas emissions caused by an event. The data can be used to define reduction measures. In addition, the amount of greenhouse gases produced (mobility, energy, etc.) can be offset by financially supporting climate protection projects.

Contact points for calculation and compensation:

o   myclimate

o   Klimacent

The cycle path network in Vorarlberg covers a total of around 1,000 kilometres. This infrastructure is designed to offer cyclists a safe and continuous connection, with various signposts and markings to ease orientation.

Information and tips for event organisers to pass on to participants in advance:

• Information about bicycle parking spaces and charging stations on site
• On ÖBB trains it’s possible to transport bikes too – only with reservation!
• At various train stations in Vorarlberg there are VMOBIL bike boxes – a safe storage point for bikes right at the station.