Vienna launches Nice Toilet”: Free toilet facilities in guest houses!

Vienna launches Nice Toilet”: Free toilet facilities in guest houses!

Something is happening in Vienna when it comes to public toilets! The city would like to bring catering establishments on board in the future in order to promote the provision of free toilet facilities. The aim is not only to improve the public space, but also to improve the contact points for passers-by. How dunav.at reports, the “Nice Toilet” concept is currently being tested as a pilot project in Vienna’s 8th district at Bennoplatz. Here, the Prinz Ferdinand Inn has the special task of offering free toilets to passers-by.

The operator, Josip Barnjak, receives 2,000 euros net annually from the city for this service. Interestingly, he is prohibited from accepting donations from users. This is to ensure that the toilets are truly free for everyone. A sign on Bennoplatz draws passers-by's attention to the offer. The initiative aims to not only provide more public toilets, but also to improve the use of them.

A keen eye for hotspots

But not all Viennese are enthusiastic about the idea. According to a report by oe24.at Catering representatives are raising concerns about heavily frequented places, such as Schwedenplatz or the Donaukanal. There is a risk that the rush to the toilet facilities will worsen the situation on site. Despite these concerns, the city government remains committed to the concept, especially since the MA 48 federal agency has difficulty building new toilets in densely populated areas.

There are currently a total of 163 stationary public toilets in Vienna, the majority of which can be used free of charge. However, 27 heavily frequented facilities are chargeable and supervised. The government program aims to examine whether all public toilets in Vienna can be used free of charge, which could further increase pressure on existing resources. An example of an urgent need can be seen in the Resselpark in front of the Karlskirche, where the city is already taking action: a new brick toilet facility is being planned for the playground there.

Here's to a good hand!

The collaboration between the SPÖ and the Neos on this initiative is an important step towards improving public life in Vienna. This is part of a larger project that the city is pursuing to strengthen Vienna as a business location and at the same time promote social inclusion. The 191-page projects and declarations of intent aim to make progress in the areas of education and climate protection, and even if the budget situation is tight, the expansion of public toilets is firmly planned.

In conclusion, one can say that Vienna is taking an interesting approach with the “Nette Toilette” model to make public toilets more accessible and at the same time support catering companies. It remains to be hoped that this model can also be successfully implemented in other places in the city.