Viennese School Streets Among the European Leaders

According to the VCÖ, Vienna ranks second in designated school streets, behind London. However, there is a need for improvement in speed limits of 30 km/h and cycling infrastructure, it was stated.

Vienna Tops in School Streets but Needs Improvement in 30 km/h Speed Limits and Cycling Infrastructure

In terms of school streets and traffic calming in school environments, a particularly good value is reported. Measures have already been implemented at 26.1 percent of primary schools in Vienna, which is just behind London with 26.9 percent, the second highest value among 36 European cities. However, the VCÖ emphasizes that children need more than just measures directly in front of the school to learn independent mobility. Therefore, speed limits of 30 km/h and traffic calming should be the standard in residential areas, they are convinced. "Everyday mobility is an opportunity for children to regularly get a portion of healthy exercise. Especially at a time when lack of exercise is an increasing problem, traffic planning should create conditions so that children and young people can cover more everyday routes on foot or by bicycle," said Katharina Jaschinsky from the VCÖ.

Here, with reference to the survey, there is still a significant need for improvement. The leader in 30 km/h speed limits is Paris. In the French capital, a maximum speed of 30 km/h is already allowed on 89 percent of the road network. It is followed by Brussels with 86 percent and Lyon with 84 percent. Vienna ranks tenth in this category with around 66 percent, reported the VCÖ. Vienna also needs to catch up in cycling infrastructure to reach the European top, according to the traffic club - although improvements in recent years were noted. In Vienna, the length of structurally separated bike paths corresponds to 22 percent of the total road network. In the top cities of Paris and Helsinki, the proportion is twice as high at 48 percent each, it was emphasized. In Copenhagen, it is 43 percent and in Munich 37 percent.

More on the topic of cycling in Vienna

(APA/Red)

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