2024-11-08 16:29:00
The local council committee for petitions met in a public meeting today, Friday, in the Vienna City Hall. There were five petitions on the agenda.
Petition “Cycle path for Mauerbachstrasse in the 14th!”
Petition submitter Isabell Kern came along and explained the purpose of the petition to the committee. As a resident, she is personally affected by the problem of the traffic situation on Mauerbachstrasse. The public connection is extremely unfavorable, there is only one post bus, which unfortunately only runs very irregularly and is also not reliable. There is neither a cycle path nor a sidewalk on Mauerbachstrasse. Without a car you are essentially “trapped”. The situation is made worse by the fact that Mauerbach is growing and therefore there is more traffic on the road. The road is also narrow and dangerous. Several people have even died on this route. The dangerous situation could be alleviated by creating a cycle path. But to do this, green space would have to be sacrificed, i.e. trees would have to be felled.
Petition “’Ottoman siege’ instead of ‘Turkish siege’ in all buildings in the state of Vienna and the city of Vienna (such as in municipal district offices, municipal buildings, museums and cultural institutions)”
The petition was submitted by Aysun Bayizitlioglu. She came to the Petitions Committee accompanied by someone and presented her concerns. The idea for the petition came about on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Turkish Republic. The term “Turkish siege” often triggers unpleasant and oppressive feelings among people of Turkish origin. For example, students of Turkish origin were given “evil looks” during a historical tour after the term “Turkish siege” was used. The Vienna Museum changed its terminology for exactly this reason. Bayizitlioglu pointed out the importance of differentiating between the Ottoman Empire, which besieged Vienna, and the Turkish Republic. She would like to see this positive example implemented in all areas of the city of Vienna. One measure could, for example, be the installation of additional boards that put problematic terms in public spaces into perspective and explain them.
Petition “Belt: bike lane instead of car lane!”
Petitioner Valentin Ruhry appeared accompanied by the committee to discuss the content of the petition submitted. The belt does not work for cyclists, pedestrians, or car traffic. The latter is clearly favored, but would still be hindered by traffic jams. The fine dust pollution from car traffic is far too high. In order to achieve the climate goals, traffic must be reduced by at least 40 percent. Redesigning the belt with one less car lane would lead to more congestion in the short term, but in the long term it would not lead to a situation worse than the one that prevails today. There are enough studies and examples to prove this. The city needs to intervene much more to better protect cyclists and pedestrians. The goal is to “create a belt that works for all road users without exception.” The petitioner wanted an “independent traffic study” that would examine the effects of reducing one lane on the belt. The removed car lane should be replaced by a cycle lane.
Petition “Mozartplatz becomes car-free”
Petition submitter Christine Schleifer-Tippl came along and presented her concerns to the committee members. Mozartplatz could become an “oasis of peace”. There is no shop or house entrance on the square, which makes car traffic on the square obsolete. There is hardly any traffic at the place in question anyway. In addition, there are hardly any parks in the district and a car-free Mozartplatz is an opportunity to create more green spaces. There is a hotel on site with a stopping area where coaches cannot stop anyway. A compromise could certainly be found that would also take the interests of the hotel concerned into account.
Petition “NO to the planned conversion of Seeböckgasse 1160 Vienna into a bicycle street”
Petition submitter Petra Wimmer came with us and commented on her concerns. The residents were either not informed by the city at all or were informed about the redesign project at very short notice. The petition is not directed against cycling itself, nor against cyclists, but only against the reconstruction of the street. For example, the planned bollard barriers would lead to more noise, more traffic in the surrounding streets and alleys and higher levels of particulate matter. The companies based there were also not informed about the renovation. The street was made bicycle-friendly just a few years ago and works very well in its current form. The planned redesign not only disrupts the necessary transport of people with disabilities, but also the supply traffic of the companies based there. There is also a federal regulation that provides clear guidelines on the possibility of building a cycle path, which would not be met in this case.
Petitions Committee since 2013
The Petitions Committee has existed since 2013. It is made up of local councilors from all factions represented in the Vienna City Council. Regardless of their citizenship, Viennese people who have reached the age of 16 have the opportunity to bring their concerns to the Petitions Committee. These will be discussed in the committee if there are 500 or more supporters. All petitions submitted so far are below www.petitionen.wien.gv.at available. Online petitions (ID Austria required) can also be supported or submitted there. (End) white
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**Interview with Isabell Kern, Petition Submitter for the Mauerbachstrasse Cycle Path**
**Editor:** Thank you for joining us today, Isabell. You’ve recently presented a petition regarding the traffic situation on Mauerbachstrasse. Can you share what motivated you to take this step?
**Isabell Kern:** Thank you for having me. As a resident of the area, I’ve personally experienced the challenges of Mauerbachstrasse. The lack of a cycle path and sidewalk not only limits mobility for cyclists and pedestrians but also makes the area quite unsafe. With growing traffic due to development, something urgently needs to be done to improve safety.
**Editor:** You mentioned that there have been severe accidents. How do you believe a cycle path could change the situation?
**Isabell Kern:** Absolutely. The creation of a dedicated cycle path would provide a safe route for cyclists, reducing the likelihood of accidents. It could also encourage more people to cycle, decreasing overall traffic congestion. Right now, without a car, it feels almost impossible to navigate the area safely.
**Editor:** The proposal also involves sacrificing some green space. How do you respond to concerns about that?
**Isabell Kern:** It’s a difficult balance, I understand. But I believe that creating safe transportation options is vital for community well-being. It’s about finding a compromise—perhaps we could consider options that minimize the impact on green spaces while still addressing safety concerns.
**Editor:** Other petitions discussed in the committee include renaming terms and promoting bike lanes on busy streets. What do you think we can learn from these diverse petitions about community engagement?
**Isabell Kern:** Each of these petitions highlights the power of community voices in shaping our city. Whether it’s addressing historical terminology or improving transport infrastructure, it shows that residents are passionate about creating a better environment. It’s all about collaboration and listening to each other’s needs.
**Editor:** Thank you, Isabell, for sharing your insights and for your efforts in improving the conditions on Mauerbachstrasse. We wish you the best of luck with the petition.
**Isabell Kern:** Thank you for having me!
