Barrier -free mobility in Vienna: A look at current challenges

Barrier -free mobility in Vienna: A look at current challenges

In an revealing event of the group "Conscious. Sustainable" at Agenda 21 Plus Wien Alsergrund, the important topic of mobility for people restricted mobility was discussed on October 3, 2024. Richard Jäkel, representative of the Vienna-Niederösterösterreich-Burgenland Blind Association, and Wolfgang Kremser from the block contact association put their fingers into the wound and showed where it was in the integration of traffic solutions in Vienna.

A central concern was that the current plans of the Viennese lines often do not take into account the needs of people with mobility restrictions. An example of these grievances is the redesign of the seats in the new subways, which are no longer optimally placed for passengers restricted mobility. In addition, the speakers explained significant defects in the blind control system (BLS), in places such as train stations and shopping malls, which are often made inaccessible by bicycles or furniture blocks.

deficits in the transport system

Another point of the discussion was the cycle path in Lassallestrasse, which was only improved after its opening. The insufficient installation areas and the short crossing times on the new Praterstrasse were mentioned, which make the crossing of the road dangerous. Missing light signal systems were also another problem.

The effects of construction sites on pedestrians were also an issue. The sidewalks are often affected at the expense of pedestrians. A proposal for improvement was to temporarily create parking spaces for pedestrians to shorten the paths and increase security.

The event offered the framework for a lively discussion about existing norms and guidelines of the Viennese lines. Among those present was also a representative of the Radlobby Vienna, who brought additional perspectives and suggestions to make mobility in Vienna better for everyone. The lecture itself can be checked on a dropbox page.

For further discussions about these critical points, the experts and institutions present are willing to work actively on solutions and to create better access for all road users.