Vienna, known for its trams 🚋 and tunes by Strauss and Beethoven, is bidding farewell to its iconic €1-a-day travel pass. This budget-friendly ticket has let locals and tourists hop on unlimited rides, making Vienna a top pick in global liveability charts.
But a squeeze on public finances means ticket prices are going up, the euro-a-day pass is ending, and Vienna risks slipping in those coveted rankings. After ruling as the world’s most liveable city five times since 2018, it dropped to #2 this year amid safety concerns.
What changes? From now on, daily and monthly passes will cost more. If you’ve enjoyed the MRT in Singapore or the LRT in Kuala Lumpur, you know how vital affordable travel passes can be for city life.
“The strategy in Vienna for the last 40 years was going away from the dependency of car traffic to more pedestrianisation, public transport and more cycling,” says Hermann Knoflacher, mobility planning expert at TU Vienna. With higher pass prices, he warns Vienna’s future ranking could take a hit.
For now, locals are weighing their options: walk, bike, or pay up. Will Vienna adapt its transit strategy to stay on top? Stay tuned! 🌍✨
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
