Viennese traffic sensation: Duo transports oven on e-moped!

Viennese traffic sensation: Duo transports oven on e-moped!

A completely normal picture in Vienna city traffic? Not quite! On Tuesday morning, driver Petra experienced a strange scene at the intersection of Johnstraße and Hütteldorfer Straße: two people were chugging through the 15th district on an electric moped, while one of the passengers was balancing an oven on his lap. The young man, who held the heavy kitchen appliance securely on his lap, had to work hard to transport the 30 to 40 kilogram piece easily and to keep his balance at the same time. At least, there were no accidents during this blatant transport, as Heute reports.

However, such bizarre transport methods raise exciting questions - not only regarding safety, but also the applicable traffic rules. The high number of e-mopeds that are increasingly taking up our cycle paths is causing discussion. Mobility City Councilor Ulli Sima has recognized the problem and is calling for clear national regulations to create a better distinction between bicycles and motorized vehicles such as e-mopeds. This concern particularly relates to the safety of cyclists in Vienna, as many of these e-mopeds are on the road without license plates. According to fahrradwien.at, there are already plans to ban these vehicles from the cycle paths.

Demands for clear regulations

The increasing number of unmarked e-mopeds is not just a local phenomenon. The volume of traffic of these heavy electric vehicles on cycle paths has increased and is causing uncertainty for other road users. E-mopeds weigh on average between 70 and 80 kg, which massively affects cyclists' sense of safety, explains Sima. In addition, speed measurements show that 15% of e-mopeds travel faster than the permitted maximum speed of 25 km/h, which further underlines the safety concerns. This is supported by ots.at, which addresses the need for urgent reform.

In order to improve the situation, the city of Vienna is calling for a maximum weight limit for vehicles on cycle paths of 60 kg and a limit on the design speed for small electric vehicles to 20 km/h. The city plans to advocate for these demands at the upcoming state transport conference in June. Germany provides an example of how things can be done better with its effective traffic safety regulations. Such a differentiation could also ensure more safety on cycle paths in Austria.

In summary, the traffic situation in Vienna is developing dynamically and it is clear that it is not just about the liveliness of the city, but also about the safety of all road users. Whether in everyday life or in bizarre moments - the Viennese should continue to travel safely!