Criticism from the Greens: Car-free main street required for Advent!

Criticism from the Greens: Car-free main street required for Advent!

At the last Landstrasse district council meeting, plans to redesign Landstrasse Main Street were on the agenda. Particular focus was on a proposal from the Greens, which suggests keeping the main street car-free during Advent. This idea was met with criticism from the deputy district manager, Siegrid Widhalm, who pointed out the need for financial security for the redesign. [MeinBezirk] reports that the first concept for the redesign was presented by district leader Erich Hohenberger and mobility city councilor Ulli Sima (both SPÖ) over six months ago.

Construction on the first section between Juchgasse and Schlachthausgasse is scheduled to start in March 2026. However, there are uncertainties regarding financing. Widhalm expressed concerns because there are no items planned for the main street in the 2026 budget estimate. Hohenberger confirmed that financing was secured, but the agreement on cost sharing with the city is still ongoing. In similar projects, such as in Simmeringer Hauptstrasse, the city has already covered 60-80% of the costs.

Car-free Advent Saturday and challenges

The Greens have submitted a proposal for a car-free Advent Saturday on December 13th, which was accepted, but no organizer has been found at the moment. Organizing the event within around ten weeks could prove challenging, which is why discussions to find a suitable organizer to carry it out should take place next week. It remains to be seen how those responsible will organize the logistics for this.

The trend towards car-free zones is gaining popularity around the world, as was recently observed at “World Carfree Day”. In Vienna, too, there is increasing discussion about highlighting the advantages of alternative transport concepts. According to information from [Stiftung für Zukunftsfragen], 29% of the population in Germany can already imagine a life without cars, and this interest is growing especially in urban areas and among younger people. The advantages that such a change brings are diverse: from health and social aspects to ecological advantages in achieving climate goals.

A look into the future

If we think about the redesign of Landstraßer Hauptstrasse, it becomes clear that citizen participation and dialogue are crucial for the acceptance and understanding of the measures. Car-free concepts have already been successfully implemented in cities such as Oslo and Copenhagen, and such pilot projects could also be an indication of the advantages and feasibility of such a transport transition for Vienna. A more car-rich environment not only promotes the health of citizens, but could also boost local commerce and create a vibrant shopping culture.

It will be exciting to see how the discussions about the planned redesign of the main street will continue and what impact this will have on the quality of life in Vienna. The opinion that fewer cars create more space for people could soon become a reality here too. The foundation for this could be laid with a successful car-free Advent Saturday.