Next public session on May 8th
Vienna (OTS/RK) – The municipal council committee for petitions held a public session today, Monday, in the Vienna City Hall. Five petitions were on the agenda.
Petition “Tempo 30 for the entire Favoritenstrasse in the 4th district”
Petitioner Christine Schleifer-Tippl appeared accompanied and presented her request personally to the municipal council committee. The redesign of Favoritenstrasse in the previous year in the area from Rainergasse towards the city center, including a 30 km/h speed reduction, was “encouraging and important for the quality of life of the residents and the schoolchildren who crossed Favoritenstrasse on their way to school”. There was no improvement from Quergasse Rainergasse out of town, as 50 km/h is still allowed there. The main contradiction of Wiener Linien in their statements is directed once morest a speed reduction on bus route 13A. However, due to the sequence of bus stops, traffic lights and zebra crossings, the petitioner suspected that the bus would not be able to accelerate to 50 km/h. The possible loss of time due to a continuous speed reduction is probably only in the range of seconds. The same applies to the night bus line that runs there, which is already exempt from a 30 km/h limit: “I don’t think there is any reason to fear a loss of time that would make public transport in this area unattractive. The price for the possibly saved seconds seems disproportionately high to me,” said the petitioner – and further: “It would be nice if there were less motorized individual traffic and therefore exhaust gases, so that Vienna would continue to be such a livable city,” said Schleifer- tips
Petition “Encounter Zone Margareten”
Petitioner Stefan Würrer named the main reason for submitting his petition that there should be fair use of public space for everyone apart from car traffic. In addition, Margareten is the district or one of the districts in Austria with the lowest proportion of green space. This is one of the reasons why Margaretenstrasse should be designed as a meeting place from the intersection with Paulanergasse to Margaretenplatz; In addition, this should be extended along Pilgramgasse to the intersection with Schönbrunner Straße. He was pleased that the majority of the responses to the petition were positive. In his opinion, the designation of Margaretenstraße as the main traffic artery should be questioned critically, since there is already a speed reduction to 30 km/h in some places and cycle paths would also cross the street diagonally. The example of Mariahilfer Strasse shows that one of Vienna’s main cycle routes is possible in a meeting zone. Public transport is handled by the three bus lines 12A, 13A and 59A; In order not to slow down these lines, 30 km/h – despite the meeting zone – is legally possible for individual road users. Not only the reduction of the speed of private transport is a concern of the petition, but also the possible positive economic benefit should be considered. The majority of the approximately 300 companies in this area would speak out in favor of a meeting zone, said the petitioner. He is aware that the Petitions Committee cannot make a decision, he would like a recommendation for a detailed examination of the implementation of the request and suggestions for further measures.
Petition “Facilitating access for the cultural use of public places – Free Spaces”
Laurenz Forsthuber, who submitted the petition, came before the municipal council committee and explained that the petition served to persuade the City of Vienna to support unbureaucratic, low-threshold and sustainable cultural use of open spaces for non-profit events. The public squares or green spaces suitable for this do not necessarily have to be in the center of the city, but might also be located on the outskirts. The basic infrastructure required for a smooth process should be made available in the course of a test phase and, if necessary, permanently established. In order to create optimal framework conditions for this, the City of Vienna should commission a pilot project together with the club culture scene and with the Vienna Club Commission, for example, and a concrete concept should be tested together with the responsible municipal departments. A model for the use of public places would be the so-called “Zurich concept”, which might represent a possibility for Vienna with adjustments to Austrian legislation.
Petitions “Continuous cycle path on Donaufelder Strasse” and “Continuous cycle path on Prager Strasse”
Both petitions were introduced by Marek Skalicka. In order to guarantee all road users a safe journey, it is necessary to set up a continuous cycle path on Prager Straße, he told the municipal council committee for petitions. The main reason for this: The situation for cyclists on Prager Strasse is “far too dangerous”. Due to the relative width of the street, the installation of a cycle lane is “probably possible without endangering thousands of parking spaces,” said the petitioner. The same applies to Donaufelder Strasse.
Session available to stream
A recording of today’s meeting will soon be available online at www.petitionen.wien.gv.at via the link to the respective petition in a media library. The next public meeting of the Petitions Committee is expected to take place on May 8, 2023.
Petitions Committee since 2013
The Petitions Committee has existed since 2013. It is made up of municipal councilors from all the parliamentary groups represented in the Vienna Municipal Council. Viennese people who have reached the age of 16 have the opportunity to bring their concerns to the Petitions Committee, regardless of their citizenship. If there are more than 500 supporters, these will be dealt with in the committee. All petitions submitted so far can be found at www.petitionen.wien.gv.at. Online petitions (digital mobile phone signature or ID Austria or citizen card required) can also be submitted there. (close) not
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