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07. 08. 12. - 16:01
ÖVP wants mobile phone ban for cyclists
Austria's people party the ÖVP is demanding a ban on cyclists using their mobile phones whilst they ride.
As well as a mobile phone ban there are also demands for a lower drink driving tolerance for cyclists in Austria.
Fritz Aichinger, from the Vienna ÖVP, said: "If there are to be so many equalities between cyclists and other road users, then really everything should be equal."
Cyclists are currently allowed 0.8 mil of alcohol in their blood to ride but car drivers only 0.5 mil.
There is also no law about the use of mobile phones whilst cycling, but car drivers must have hands free kits in their vehicles to be allowed to use their phones.
"Making the rules the same for cyclists would improve the general road safety," Aichinger added.
Aichinger stressed however that he was against number plates for cyclists.
Number plates on bicycles in Austria could become compulsory in the near future in an attempt to make Vienna's roads safer it was announced last week.
Mayor of Vienna Michael Häupl said it was an 'interesting idea' but Christoph Chorherr from the Vienna Green Party labelled it 'not a useful measure'.
Häupl said: "It is an interesting idea but one we should not agree on too quickly.
"It is not only motorists who can be dangerous, but also some cyclists.
"Whether number plates on bikes would help combat this is not something which I would like to comment on at the moment. But I certainly think it is something which we should consider."
It is not clear whether compulsory number plates can be introduced in Vienna or whether the Road Traffic Act would have to be altered first.
The FPÖ have campaigned for cycle number plates for years but the SPÖ, ÖVP and the Greens have failed to agree on the measure up to now.
Christoph Chorherr from the Greens said: "We can talk about everything, but this really is not a useful measure.
He claims there are a whole heap of arguments against having number plates on cycles.
It would be a huge administrative burden to fit more than 1 million cycles in Vienna with number plates. With tighter budgets this just wouldn't be possible argues Chorherr.
Chorherr referred to the Swiss plans for number plates being dropped as it turned out the number plates were impossible to read from distance as they were too small.
Anton Mahdalik from the FPÖ said they number plates on the other hand would be a sensible measure in the fight against dangerous bicycle riders.
He argues 1 million number plates would not be necessary as it would not apply to children and one plate could be used on different bikes people own.
Roman Stiftner from the ÖVP is also very sceptical of the idea agreeing with the Greens he said: "Why should everyone have to carry extra costs and be punished because a few people don't know how to behave.
