Start of the nationwide mobility study „Österreich unterwegs“ Data on mobility behaviour in Austria will be collected for a year to ensure the high quality of mobility and infrastructure offerings in the future
In order for the domestic transport services to be best aligned with the needs of the population and planned in the interests of citizens, the Federal Ministry for Innovation, Mobility and Infrastructure (BMIMI) has commissioned the study "Österreich unterwegs (Austria on the go)” together with ÖBB-Infrastruktur AG and ASFINAG.
The goal is to obtain current and reliable data on the mobility behaviour of people in Austria. The survey starts in March 2026 and lasts about a year. During this period, around 150,000 households are invited to participate voluntarily.
"The Ministry of Mobility ensures that the mobility offering in Austria stays up-to-date and optimally aligned with the needs of the people. 'Austria on the go' provides indispensable data and facts that serve as a basis for important decisions and measures. This allows us to sustainably manage traffic and effectively advance the mobility transition," underscores Federal Minister Peter Hanke the high importance of the study.
"'Austria on the go' is an important building block for our planning of the railways of tomorrow. We can invest precisely where our passengers benefit optimally," says ÖBB-Infrastruktur board member Johann Pluy.
Precise data for practical forecasts
Participants receive a smartphone for the survey, with which all journeys made on a specific day are recorded via voluntary GPS tracking. In a short personal conversation, further planning-relevant information such as household size, available means of transport, and sociodemographic characteristics of the persons are also queried.
By combining these survey methods, it is possible to efficiently gather high-quality data and gain valuable insights into the mobility behaviour of the Austrian population. Residents randomly drawn from the Central Register of Residents (ZMR) are contacted, who are distributed across municipalities throughout Austria. The size of the sample allows for more detailed analyses, such as mobility comparisons in terms of federal states, spatial types, or with respect to social and societal aspects.
Use and protection of data
The data form a basis for mobility research and analyses as well as for traffic demand and forecast models such as the "Traffic Model Austria" (VMÖ) and the "Traffic Forecast Austria 2040+" (VPÖ 2040+) of the federal government. On the international level, the results of the survey can also be used as a reference.
After the completion of the survey, the data will be anonymised, evaluated, and published in report form. It is not possible to draw conclusions about individual persons or households. Information on data protection as well as further details about the survey can be found on the project website (oesterreich-unterwegs.gv.at).