Taking your bicycle with the KlimaTicket Austria: Here it's free of charge.
All regulations regarding bicycle transport with the KlimaTicket in our overview
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When is bicycle transport free with the Austrian Climate Ticket – and where do I have to pay extra? Unfortunately, there are no regionally uniform regulations regarding when and where you need to purchase an additional ticket for your bicycle despite having the Climate Ticket. In the following article, we summarize the options available throughout Austria.
Free bicycle transport with the KlimaTicket Austria on all ÖBB local trains
In many Austrian states, the KlimaTicket Österreich (Austrian Climate Ticket) is available. Free bicycle transport on all ÖBB local trains (S-Bahn, REX, regional train) possible. This applies, for example, to Styria and Salzburg, but not across the entire country. Our recommendation: check the regional regulations in detail beforehand. For long-distance trains such as ICE, ECE, and Railjets, you still need an additional bicycle ticket.
Regional regulations regarding free bicycle transport
Several German states have agreed on their own regulations regarding free bicycle transport with the KlimaTicket. Here is an overview:
Styria: Pioneer of free bicycle transport
Styria was the first Austrian state to independently agree on a set of rules with both regional railways and the Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB). With the Styrian Climate Ticket, your bicycle travels free of charge on the GKB and Styrian Railway lines. On ÖBB lines in Styria, bicycle transport is also free, but only outside of peak hours (weekdays 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and from 6:30 p.m., Saturdays from 9:00 a.m., and all day Sundays and public holidays). You can find the details in our article about the regulations. Styria.
Salzburg: significant differences between individual transport companies
In Salzburg, bicycle transport is free of charge with the KlimaTicket Österreich on low-floor and regular buses (OBUS & Albus) within the city limits from 9:00 a.m. until the end of service on weekdays, and all day on weekends and public holidays. The Pinzgau Local Railway and the Salzburg Local Railway also offer free bicycle transport. On other transport companies in the state (e.g., Postbus), bicycle transport remains subject to a fee.
Vienna: free bicycle transport with the KlimaTicket outside of peak hours
Vienna also has its own regional regulations: With the KlimaTicket, you can take your bicycle free of charge on the subway and on ÖBB and Raaberbahn trains within Vienna on weekdays between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. and after 6:30 p.m. This is possible all day on weekends and public holidays. You need an additional bicycle ticket for the Mariazell Railway. Bicycles are not permitted on the Vienna Local Railways (Badner Bahn).
Traveling on the train with a folding bike at no extra cost
The easiest and cheapest way to travel is still with a folding bike. It qualifies as hand luggage as long as it's folded and doesn't exceed 90 x 60 x 40 cm. This way, you can take it with you free of charge. You can also take your folding bike on WESTbahn trains free of charge – a separate protective cover is no longer mandatory, but it can be useful for space reasons.
Conclusion:
Unfortunately, the rules regarding free bicycle transport are not uniform across Austria. Many travelers are therefore calling for clear, Austria-wide regulations that also include long-distance trains. Until then, we hope this overview has been helpful.
Do you have any further tips or information about taking your bicycle on public transport for free in Austria, or any questions or experiences you'd like to share? Let us know in the comments!
🐝Be kind!
The most important rule when traveling by bike and train is: Be considerate of other passengers! This is especially important in multi-purpose compartments on local trains, which are designed for bicycles, wheelchairs, and strollers. If possible, allow yourself some extra time for your train journey.
Bus instead of train for the return journey?
Our bike bus guide can help!
Especially after a long cycling trip, the return journey by train can be stressful and inconvenient: changing trains, cramped bicycle compartments, crowded platforms. But there are alternatives and add-ons!
Many popular cycling routes in Austria and southern Germany offer seasonal bike buses with bicycle trailers that will take you comfortably back to your starting point without having to change bikes. This saves you the hassle and the effort of carrying your bike.
The problem is that these bicycle buses are often hard to find – especially if you're not specifically looking for them.
That's why we did the research for you: In our Bike bus guide Here you'll find an overview of leisure bus routes and bike shuttles, organized by region. This makes tour planning more relaxed and multimodal.
Links and sources:
- Bicycle transport – Salzburg Transport Association (salzburg-verkehr.at)
- Cycling in the VOR | Eastern Region Transport Association
- Climate Ticket Austria – Overview of the rules for taking bicycles on public transport – VELLO BIKE
cyclebeeOnRails – Your partner for taking your bicycle on the train
Want to travel comfortably and flexibly by bike and train? Then "cyclebeeOnRails" is the answer for you. Here we offer official data on connections and train stations, which you can supplement with comments, tips, and reviews. Over time, your feedback will create a vibrant knowledge platform for everyone who enjoys combining cycling and train travel.
About the author
Claudia Otter studied Management of international business processes at FH Joanneum. Claudia completed a marketing internship at cyclebee in 2023 and wrote this article during that time. We have since published it. Article regularly updated.
Our cycling group (4 people) did a combined bike tour with Austrian Federal Railways (ÖBB) this week. From Neuhaus Niederwaldkirchen, we took the train to Linz Urfahr, cycled to Linz Central Station, and then took the ÖBB to Steyr. From there, we cycled to Wartberg an der Krems, took the train back to Linz, and then another train home! So far, so good! The crazy thing, though, was that we had to buy a bike ticket four times! It's a really complicated procedure and, in my opinion, a complete rip-off! Isn't there a way to get a day ticket that includes train travel? It's not my fault that there's no connection between Linz Urfahr and the main station... I hope for a response!
Regards, Rois
With the "Einfach-Raus-Ticket" (Simply-Out Ticket), two people including bicycles can travel for a flat rate of €46 for one day on most S-Bahn lines.,
Regional and REX trains as well as the Cityjet Xpress in Austria.