Graz Gazing: Pedestrian-focused Services by Holding Graz

Is the sidewalk handicapped accessible? Are there any danger spots or obstacles on the sidewalk? Starting this week, Graz residents can report these and other concerns digitally in the “Schau auf Graz” app.

Making the cityscape of Graz even cleaner and more livable without much effort – simply and digitally via app – that’s possible with “Look at Graz”. The Holding Graz app, a digital tool that has been in use since 2015, has already actively involved the people of Graz in terms of cleanliness in public space. Your concerns will be recorded by the customer management of the Infrastructure and Energy division in Holding Graz via the app and forwarded to the responsible departments for processing. Since then, around 19,500 requests have been dealt with positively.

On the initiative of the Deputy Mayor Judith Schwentner and the first pedestrian commissioners in Graz Renate Platzer Holding Graz, together with the IT subsidiary ITG, has now expanded the “Schau auf Graz” app with a separate category specifically for pedestrians: They can digitally report their concerns about accessibility and safety of sidewalks as well as potential danger spots and suggestions for improvement . Pedestrian officer Renate Platzer then takes care of the reported concerns.

Deputy Mayor and Traffic Officer Judith Schwentner: “I am pleased that pedestrians can now report their concerns via the Schau auf Graz app. With this new feature, we are taking another important step towards prioritizing green mobility and walking! All those who are on foot can use this new app to get instant information about dangerous spots or obstacles. Together with the pedestrian commissioner, we will continue to make pedestrian traffic in Graz even more attractive.”

Holding Graz Board of Directors Gert Heigl: “150 city cleaning employees keep the city clean every day. This also includes the maintenance and ongoing cleaning of streets, sidewalks and footpaths in public spaces. With the new function in the practical app “Schau auf Graz” the concerns of pedestrians are even better integrated into daily work. Together we can ensure that the high quality of life in Graz is maintained.”

Information about “Look at Graz”:

• New in the app is a separate category specifically for pedestrians: you can report your concerns about accessibility, footpaths, dangerous spots and sidewalks digitally.
• For example, dirt in squares, overflowing rubbish bins or defective street lamps can still be easily reported via the app.
• Holding Graz currently has 19,182 app downloads and 10,041 active users.
• Since the app was launched in 2015, 19,472 requests have been resolved.
• The concerns can be sent directly and automatically to the responsible customer management team via the app (location with address and GPS coordinates, photo).
• Around 98% of all customer concerns are processed without exceeding the agreed response or processing times. (Response time 2 working days, processing time 5 working days)
• 67% of all urban space concerns come from the app. The remaining concerns come by telephone, e-mail, back office, personally. Etc.
• Top concerns: street lighting defective (336), wastepaper basket overflowing (272), dead bicycles (240), roadway/rivulet dirty (230), traffic signs defective (193)

Categories in the app:

Waste, trees, green spaces, playgrounds, lighting, public toilets, public transport, streets and squares, animals and

NEW: Pedestrian: inside concerns

From now on, for example, a restriction of accessibility, an obstacle on the sidewalk or other danger spots can be reported via the new category “pedestrians”.