Wiener Neudorf wins award for child-friendly transport

Wiener Neudorf, a market town in the Mödling district, has won the Austrian Transport Club’s Mobility Award for its child-friendly transport system, ORF reported.

The municipality was recognised for measures designed to help children and teenagers travel safely, independently and in an environmentally friendly way.

New pavements and cycle paths, safer crossings, and additional parking spaces for scooters and bicycles have improved safety on routes to school, according to the Austrian Transport Club, known as VCÖ.

Workshops for fourth-year primary school pupils also teach them how to use public transport safely, read timetables and travel to their next school.

The award-winning concept, called “Children as mobility ambassadors”, was developed together with children in Wiener Neudorf, who helped identify safer routes to school.

“What works for children also helps people with prams or walking frames,” VCÖ chief executive Ulla Rasmussen said. She added that encouraging children to walk, cycle and use public transport could reduce the number of parents driving them to school and provide regular physical activity.

Thirteen projects received awards this year. The Mobility Award, Austria’s largest competition for environmentally friendly mobility and sustainable freight transport, was presented for the 35th time under the motto “sustainable, efficient, innovative”. A total of 388 projects were submitted.

Transport Minister Peter Hanke, VCÖ and ÖBB also honoured 12 other mobility projects.