Vienna, We're Sticking Around!
It’s no secret that we love Vienna. We blogged about hitting 1 million rides in the World’s Most Liveable City back in 2022, and we are thrilled to share that we will be continuing our service in Vienna! It was announced today that the Vienna City Council gave us the greenlight to stay in Vienna for the next three years. We’re both humbled and ecstatic about the trust that the city has extended to us to keep serving riders and non-riders alike.
As we look forward to the next three years, we wanted to highlight a couple initiatives that we’re excited about in Vienna.
Rider education campaign highlighting why being courteous matters
This Spring we worked with Hilfsgemeinschaft der Blinden und Sehschwachen Österreichs (the Austrian Organization for the Blind and Visually Impaired) on a billboard campaign that doesn’t just tell people to park correctly, it demonstrates why it’s important. The resulting billboard depicts a scooter rider parking properly as a Blind pedestrian walks by. The message of the campaign is to always do the right thing -- don’t block walkways.
Hilfsgemeinschaft gave us design feedback to include all the elements they deemed important, such as the arm band, addition of a guide dog, and depicting tactile markings on the ground. We're proud of the final product, and know it's better for their additions.
Our Parking Hero will take parking compliance to the next level
We face a big challenge in all of our cities that parking rules are not always intuitive, and many of our riders are just trying to do their best without fully understanding the rules. We’re taking the guesswork out of parking with a new tool under development we call Parking Hero. Parking Hero is an augmented reality parking assistant for riders. Think Pokemon Go, except instead of catching Pokemon, you’re finding a perfect parking spot. At the end of each ride, Parking Hero Assistant launches inside the rider app, directing the rider to scan the environment with their phone’s camera. Using real-time dynamic on-screen directions, the tool guides riders to the closest compliant parking location at the end of their ride, ensuring that every rider is confident they’re in the right spot.
There is a lot else to be excited about in Vienna, and we’ll let you know about new initiatives as we roll them out.
Where to ride in Vienna
If you’re headed to Vienna for the first time, grab a scooter and check out one of two routes recommended by our Operations team:
VIENNA STATE OPERA TO SCHÖNBRUNN
Of course the Vienna Operahouse is at the top of our list for destinations in Vienna, but what to do after you’ve visited the landmark? We recommend a ride to Schönbrunn Palace. According to our Vienna Operations Manager Laurenz, you can make the trip twice as quickly by scooter, giving you more time to stop along the way. He recommends stopping at the Viennese Naschmarkt for lunch or a snack, then continuing along Gumpendorfer Strasse and Sechshauser Strasse to the entrance to Schlosspark. Or, you can also use the Linke Wienzeile and ride the bike path. Once you get to Schönbrunn Palace, take a hike up to the Gloriette, pay a visit to the zoo, or just bask in the beauty of the palace.
RIDE ACROSS THE 7TH, 8TH, AND 9TH DISTRICTS
This is the ride for people who understand that the journey is the destination. Districts 7 to 9 are especially popular, being filled with trendy cafes and bars. After a stroll in one of Vienna's most beautiful garden palaces in Liechtensteinpark, journey by scooter to Josefstadt via Spitalgasse, past the Old General Hospital. Take Lederergasse and Strozzigasse to quickly arrive in Neubaugasse, and make a stop at one of the many cafes near St. Ulrichplatz. The 7th district is also known for its museums. Check out the Leopold Museum, Mumok, and Kunsthalle.