Vienna public transport fourth in European check

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General News

Vienna has one of the most popular public transport services in Europe. The Austrian Traffic Club (VCÖ) said yesterday (Thurs) that it investigated 15 cities all over the continent to determine the shares public transport took. The Austrian capital ranked fourth with a stake of 36 per cent. Czech capital Prague and Madrid in Spain […]

Greens want public opinion poll on tax question

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Politics

The Green party wants a public opinion poll in the current tax debate. The Green’s spokesperson Werner Kogler said at a press conference today (Fri) that a public opinion poll was necessary to end “red-black stagnation” meaning SPÖ and ÖVP. Furthermore the Greens demanded polls on abolishing mandatory military service and an anti-corruption law. The […]

Vienna Greens slash ÖVP festival’s budget

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Politics

The Viennese People’s Party (ÖVP) is infuriated after the city government decided to slash the budget of a cultural event it has been hosting for years. The Stadtfest is a tradition-rich series of concerts, performances and readings taking place in the city centre of Vienna. It is organised by the ÖVP. The conservative party formed […]

Speed reduction row intensifies

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Politics

District chiefs have turned their guns on the Viennese government over its plans to turn all residential areas into 30-kilometre-per-hour (kph) limit zones. The coalition of Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the Green Party of Vice Mayor Maria Vassilakou agreed after partnering up last year to increase the number of 30 kph limit streets in the […]

Greens want to ban cars from Vienna’s main roads

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Politics

Vienna’s Greens are delving further into controversy with a new no-traffic concept. Viennese newspapers report today (Weds) that Green Party Vice Mayor Maria Vassilakou wanted to ban car traffic from some of the city’s busiest roads next summer. The left-winger allegedly wants a different street at the free disposal for cyclists, pedestrians and inline skaters. […]

Crackdown on fare dodgers in Vienna

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General News

Fare dodgers are in for a tough time, Viennese public transport agency Wiener Linien has warned. The company said today (Tues) it has drastically increased the number of checks on passengers. Wiener Linien staff asked more than 2.3 million passengers for their tickets in the first three months of this year. Fewer than three per […]

Vienna public transport price reform ahead

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Politics

Vienna’s public transport pricing system will be reformed, Social Democratic (SPÖ) Mayor Michael Häupl has confirmed.Häupl reacted to recent newspaper reports claiming that his party and the Greens will restructure the Wiener Linien ticket price scheme. The mayor said today (Weds) prices will be altered to make the system fairer and “more social.” He explained […]

Berlakovich under Green fire

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Politics

Greens chairwoman Eva Glawischnig has hit out at People’s Party (ÖVP) Environment Minister Nikolaus Berlakovich.The Green Party head said Austria was likely to fail reducing its greenhouse gas emissions – and made the minister responsible for the development. Glawischnig also pointed out that the share of energy from renewable sources declined by two per cent […]

Anti-nuclear energy protest in Vienna

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Politics

Hundreds of activists and worried citizens gathered to demonstrate against nuclear energy technology in Vienna yesterday (Mon).Around 1,000 people joined the event which was organised by environment protection organisation Global 2000 in the city centre of the Austrian capital. Members of the ruling Social Democrats (SPÖ), Greens chief Eva Glawischnig and representatives of non-government organisations […]

Turkish to become final exam subject

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General News

Students in Austria may soon be able to graduate in Turkish.The federal education ministry of Social Democrat (SPÖ) Claudia Schmied announced today (Tues) the language may become the 14th foreign language learners in the country can pick at their final exams. Turkish has been taught as an optional subject in many secondary modern schools which […]