The Viennese Greens plan significant cycling rule reforms. Several Viennese newspapers report today (Thurs) that the party of Vice Mayor Maria Vassilakou wants to lift the obligatory cycling path usage law. The restriction means that all cyclists have to use cycling strips wherever available. Abandoning the ruling could create a conflict between the city coalition […]
Health bosses are spending millions rebuilding an obesity clinic in Rissen, Austria, because their XXL patients are getting even fatter. Designers have created wider doors, reinforced beds with thicker mattresses, two metre-wide operating gowns and even super-sized paper undies. Officials say people have grown larger and larger since the clinic first opened and a typical […]
The government wants to reform teachers’ service law. Social Democratic (SPÖ) Education Minister Claudia Schmied and Finance Minister Maria Fekter of the People’s Party (ÖVP) reportedly agree that teachers should get higher wages in their first years on the job. Such measures would affect the incomes of new teachers but leave the salaries of people […]
The city of Graz is planning to invest 350,000 Euros in creating a city wide rental bike system. The rental system will be based around a booking platform known as “Graz Bikes” that will be aimed at tourists and locals keen to try out the cycling possibilities in the region. The council agreed funding of […]
The Viennese government plans to create a charter for better coexistence in the city. Social Democratic (SPÖ) Mayor Michael Häupl said yesterday (Tues) that the Viennese Charter should be formulated by November. He appealed to residents of Vienna to participate in discussing which aspects should be considered by the document. Greens Vice Mayor Maria Vassilakou […]
Political scientist Anton Pelinka has reacted critically to the government’s plan to reduce the parliament. Werner Faymann’s Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the conservative People’s Party (ÖVP) of Vice Chancellor and Foreign Affairs Minister Michael Spindelegger announced earlier this month that the number of federal parliament delegates would shrink by 18 to 165 after next year’s […]
The government is confronted with mounting criticism after presenting plans to lower the number of parliamentary delegates (MPs). The government coalition, formed by the Social Democrats (SPÖ) and the conservative People’s Party (ÖVP), said earlier this month the number of MPs should shrink by 13 to 165 after the coming election. Viennese SPÖ Mayor Michael […]
Social Democratic (SPÖ) whip Josef Cap has said he is optimistic about strong support for a reform of the parliament by all represented factions. The long-time member of parliament (MP) said today (Fri) he was certain that the opposition would approve plans for a reduction of the federal parliament too “if the concept is convincing”. […]
The number of people opting for annual Wiener Linien tickets is soaring. A spokesman for the Viennese public transport agency told the Kurier newspaper today (Fri) that more than 8,000 people ordered annual passes last month. He explained that the average number of purchasers of this kind of ticket used to range around 2,000. Rising […]
The head of one of Austria’s biggest universities has said the current situation at his institution was “dramatic”. Vienna University of Economics and Business (WU) boss Christoph Badelt explained yesterday (Mon) that the things were becoming increasingly difficult due to a soaring number of students who qualified to sit their final exams. He said the […]