According to a recent study by the Austrian Automobile, Motorcycle and Touring Club (ÖAMTC), only 40% of cyclists and 12% of e-scooter users in Austria wear a helmet. The data was collected in Austria’s provincial capitals through the observation of 14,856 individuals. The results show clear differences not only between types of vehicles but also by region, age group, and type of route. Linz had the highest rate of helmet use among cyclists at 62%, while St. Pölten had the lowest at 16%, the ÖAMTC announced on Thursday.

The survey was conducted in March and April 2025 at locations associated with daily urban cycling as well as leisure and tourism routes. The analysis showed a stark difference between vehicle types: 37% of traditional cyclists wore helmets, compared to 55% of e-bike riders. Helmet use among e-scooter riders was notably low at 12%, and among users of rental scooters, it was “virtually zero,” according to ÖAMTC traffic expert David Nosé. A positive outlier was young parents using e-cargo bikes with children—many of whom consistently wore helmets. Nosé noted that there were hardly any differences between male and female riders.

Helmet Use Higher on Leisure Routes

There were significant regional disparities. After Linz (62%), Vienna (51%) and Bregenz (47%) had the highest helmet-wearing rates. Salzburg and Graz had slightly over 40%, while Eisenstadt (30%), Innsbruck (21%), Klagenfurt (20%), and St. Pölten (16%) had noticeably lower rates.

The location of the observations influenced the results. For example, many cyclists in Linz were riding along the Danube embankment and wore helmets, whereas fewer did so in the city center. The type of route also plays a major role in helmet usage: people are more likely to wear helmets on leisure routes than during daily commutes. Nosé suggested that cyclists may find helmets inconvenient when heading to business or office appointments, compared to recreational outings. Factors like time of day, age, and local helmet-promotion initiatives also impact the wearing rate.

Youth and Seniors Less Likely to Wear Helmets

Helmet usage varies by age, as shown in the 2023 accident statistics: only 34% of injured cyclists aged 15 to 24 and 35% of those over 85 wore helmets. The highest usage was among 55- to 74-year-olds at 55%. Overall, accidents involving injury among cyclists and e-bike riders rose by 42% over the past decade, with single-vehicle accidents like falls increasing by 112%, according to Statistics Austria.

The ÖAMTC is calling for a holistic approach to improve safety for cyclists, e-bike, and e-scooter users. Infrastructure must keep pace with growing traffic volumes, the organization said. It also strongly recommends wearing helmets. The ÖAMTC referenced a recent Austrian Supreme Court ruling that compensation for pain and suffering may be reduced if injured e-bike riders were not wearing a helmet.