VCÖ and City Councilor Sima: Viennese are more sustainably mobile today than 20 years ago - 20th VCÖ Mobility Prize Vienna started

2024-04-10 06:46:14

VCÖ Mobility Prize Vienna is looking for projects for ecological and social mobility and sustainable freight transport

Vienna (OTS) – Many Viennese are sustainably mobile: nine out of ten take public transport at least occasionally, and more than half use bicycles as a means of transport. At 74 percent, Viennese people cover almost three times as many everyday journeys on foot, by public transport and by bike as by car, reports the mobility organization VCÖ. So the starting position is good, but there is of course still potential for more sustainable mobility in Vienna. This year’s VCÖ Mobility Prize is therefore under the motto “Sustainably improving mobility”, which was launched today by City Councilor Ulli Sima, the VCÖ and the ÖBB. A current VCÖ analysis shows that sustainable mobility not only reduces greenhouse gases, but also costs. In the mobility sustainability check, active mobility and public transport are at the podium.

“Vienna is already doing very well in terms of modal split and the city is supporting this positive trend through the constant expansion of public transport and cycle paths – last year alone we invested 35 million euros in new cycling infrastructure! In order to make walking more pleasant, squares and streets throughout the city are being unsealed, greened and made climate-friendly. Any good idea to further promote sustainable mobility behavior in our city is welcome – I am therefore really looking forward to many exciting projects!” emphasizes Mobility City Councilor Ulli Sima.

The VCÖ Mobility Prize Vienna is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. The 1,281 projects that have been submitted to the VCÖ Mobility Prize Vienna show how great the spirit of innovation and implementation power is in Vienna. This year, businesses and companies, startups, districts, schools and universities, housing developers and associations are called upon to submit projects that show today how the mobility or freight transport of the future can be more environmentally friendly. The deadline for submission is May 29, 2024. Submission documents and information about the VCÖ Mobility Prize Vienna are available at www.vcoe.at

“Sustainable mobility brings many advantages: it reduces traffic jams, traffic noise and energy consumption, it improves air quality and the quality of life of the population. Public transport and a good cycling infrastructure increase freedom in choosing the means of transport and reduce the costs of mobility,” says VCÖ spokesman Christian Gratzer.

A current VCÖ analysis shows that Viennese people are more sustainably mobile than they were 20 years ago. In 2004, the Viennese population made 36 percent of their everyday journeys by car. This share fell by more than a quarter to 26 percent in the previous year. At 74 percent, the Viennese make almost three times as many everyday journeys on foot, by public transport and by bicycle as by car. The declining importance of cars for the Viennese population is also reflected in the car density, which fell from 403 per 1,000 residents in 2004 to 364 in the previous year. The number of electric cars with Vienna license plates has increased from 22 in 2004 to around 29,000 now.

Through more sustainable mobility behavior, the people of Vienna are contributing to a reduction in climate-damaging emissions from transport. Per capita greenhouse gas emissions have fallen from 2,300 kilograms in 2004 to 1,560 kilograms in 2021. For 2023, the VCÖ expects a further decline to less than 1,500 kilograms per capita. Together with improved vehicle exhaust emissions, more sustainable mobility behavior has also led to a sharp decline in health-damaging nitrogen oxide emissions from traffic by two thirds since 2004 and PM2.5 fine dust emissions from traffic by three quarters.

The healthiest, most social, most environmentally friendly and most energy-saving form of mobility is walking. The bicycle is also a healthy means of transport because it is active. The share of cycling traffic in Vienna has tripled from three to ten percent in the past 20 years. “If you cover as many daily journeys as possible on foot or by bike, you get a regular dose of healthy exercise, strengthen your fitness and immune system and prevent cardiovascular diseases. Walking and cycling are in mobility just as fruit and vegetables are in your diet. “Vitamins in mobility, so to speak,” emphasizes VCÖ spokesman Christian Gratzer.

After active mobility, public transport comes in the sustainability ranking. Switching from cars to public transport not only reduces emissions, but also costs. With the annual ticket you can use public transport in Vienna for a year for 365 euros. If the mileage allowance is taken as a basis, 365 euros are enough for just 869 kilometers by car. This corresponds to about a month of driving, explains the VCÖ.

The VCÖ Mobility Prize Vienna is carried out by the VCÖ in cooperation with the City of Vienna and the ÖBB and supported by Gesiba. ÖBB Infrastructure Board Member Judith Engel: “The entire ÖBB Group stands for sustainable mobility like no other company. That’s why we’ve been a long-standing partner and are happy to support the VCÖ Mobility Prize again this year. We look forward to numerous ideas and projects being submitted that will contribute to increasing sustainable mobility.”

The submissions for the VCÖ Mobility Prize Vienna are evaluated by a jury of experts. In September, the best-rated projects will be honored by VCÖ, city councilor Ulli Sima and the ÖBB. Last year, Bicibus Vienna won the VCÖ Mobility Prize Vienna.

VCÖ Mobility Prize Vienna: www.vcoe.at/mobilitaetspreis-2024