In 1992, a charming monument to a cyclist appeared on the embankment in Salzburg not far from Mirabell Palace. The bronze cyclist parked his two-wheeled steed under a spreading tree and leans on it, turning his face to the sun and wind.
The figure of the resting cyclist is androgynous - the sculptor did not give the work any features by which one could determine the gender. However, the author of the sculpture also did not consider it necessary to make a bicycle frame.
The creator of the cyclist is Lotte Ranft, a well-known Austrian artist and sculptor. Her sculpture of the nymph Daphne adorns the university; the fantastical monument to Tassilo, the last Duke of Bavaria and a Catholic saint, stands in the square in front of the Benedictine monastery in Flachau, and the bronze bust of Christian Doppler by Lotte greets tourists at the airport.
Salzburg is known for its intimate sculptures - ones dedicated not to a famous person or event, but existing simply as art for art's sake. The Cyclist Monument also belongs to this kind of intimate sculpture, but besides its decorative role, it also carries meaning. The city authorities of Salzburg actively promote cycling, because riding a bicycle is good not only for health, but also for the environment.
