Vienna speeds up public transport by cleaning up illegal parking hotspots

By removing illegally parked vehicles, Vienna’s local government is both protecting the environment and speeding up its public transport network

In close cooperation with the city’s boroughs, Wiener Linien has successfully been defusing illegal parking hotspots throughout the city. In times of a global climate crisis, the elimination of a few parking spaces brings hundreds of environmentally conscious public transport users to their destination even faster.

Battling crime and benefitting the environment

At the beginning of the year, the sidewalk along Blindengasse 2-10 (Josefstadt) was widened and the illegal parking spots were drastically reduced from 100 in 2019 to just 13. Similar renovation work also took place along Döblinger Hauptstrasse 57-63 in September. Compared to the previous year (152 parking offenders), the number of delays caused by such transgressions fell to 111. In the Hormayrgasse in Hernals, another hotspot is currently being dismantled by widening the pavement at nearby houses.

Overall, the trams were blocked 1,649 times in the entire city area from January to mid-December 2020 (2019: 2,030 times) and were therefore prevented from continuing their journey on average 4.5 times a day.

Incorrectly parked cars are not only a particular nuisance for Wiener Linien, but especially for passengers. It can take up to 40 minutes before public transport can continue on its way and onto its final destination.

Authorities want to remind citizens of proper parking etiquette, reiterating that the concrete slabs on which the tracks lie must always remain free. In addition, the side mirrors of parked cars should be folded in. If public transport is blocked, it can cost the offender several hundred euros. In addition to an administrative penalty, the costs for the fire service or towing service must also be borne by the offender on top of the overtime payment of the engaged personnel.