Free open-air card for blind people in Vienna: FPÖ raises the alarm!

Free open-air card for blind people in Vienna: FPÖ raises the alarm!

From 2026, the free open-air card for the blind and strongly visually impaired people will be abolished in Vienna. The Viennese Greens criticized this decision as "heartless" and accused the red-pink coalition to ignore people with disabilities. According to Exxpress.at, those affected will have to pay 300 euros for a so-called special ticket in the future, which meets the requirements such as an at least 70 percent disability.

The new regulation is part of a comprehensive tariff structure reform, which also increases the regular annual ticket from 365 euros to 467 euros. According to today.at, the deletion affects around 2,700 people who have previously used the social affairs in Vienna (FSW) to cover the annual ticket. The savings for the city of Vienna by this measure are only 800,000 euros, considering a total budget of 20 billion euros, this is a very low amount.

Political reactions and criticism

The FPÖ expresses sharp criticism of the decision and calls for the preservation of the free public annual card as a sign of inclusion. Vienna FPÖ boss Dominik Nepp and social spokesman Lukas Brucker described the financial burden for people with disabilities as unreasonable. The Viennese lines, on the other hand, defend the introduction of the special ticket and describe this as progress in tariff system.

Judith Pühringer, party leader of the Greens, has criticized the measure as a "haphazard shortening" and calls for a rethink from the city government. It is of the opinion that an inclusive society also requires an inclusive transport policy to meet the needs of all citizens, as also demands the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabilities, which strives for equal participation of people with disabilities, especially with regard to mobility and accessibility.

The importance of mobility

Mobility is a fundamental need and has a decisive influence on self -determined life. Access to public transport is essential for people with disabilities to participate in social life. Including traffic policy that builds barriers is of great importance to promote equality and is supported by the Personal Transport Act (PBefG). People with visual impairments in particular rely on barrier -free information in order to travel safely.

The new tariff structure and the increase in ticket prices raise questions about the accessibility of public transport. The previous measures and reforms show that there is still considerable need for action to ensure mobility for all people, especially for people with disabilities. A self -determined life depends heavily on the possibility of exploring the environment flexibly and without restrictions. This requires more than just the provision of transport; It also requires comprehensive mobility formation and support.