Page 252 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Vienna

250  SUR VIV AL GUIDE GE T TING AROUND VIENNA  251

GETTING AROUND VIENNA Driving
Priority is always given to the
With so much to see, central Vienna is drivers are dissuaded from driving in the right unless a yellow diamond
best explored on foot. Footpaths are well city centre by a complicated and frustrating indicates otherwise. Unlike in
maintained, with signposts marking major one-way system and fairly expensive other EU countries, Austrian
sights and attractions. Traffic-free areas parking tariffs. However, if the legwork gets stoplights blink rapidly in green
before switching to amber.
offer pedestrians the opportunity to shop too much, the public transport system is Trams, buses, police cars, fire
and sightsee away from tooting horns cheap and efficient to use. One ticket buys engines and ambulances all
and congestion. Numerous cobblestone access to five underground U-bahn lines, have right of way. Vienna’s speed
plazas, gardens, parks and cafés offer plenty 29 trolley car tram routes and 127 bus limit is 50 km (30 miles) per hour.
of places to stop, draw breath, check the routes. Fridays and Saturdays subways run Police carry out checks with
infrared guns and can issue fines
map and enjoy a cup of coffee. Viennese 24 hours, and there are always night buses.
on the spot. The limit for alcohol
is 0.5 mg per ml of blood (about
1/3 litre [11 fl oz] of beer or 1–2
offer multilingual guided Tourists in a horse-drawn cab outside the Michaelertrakt at the Hofburg Complex glasses of wine). Spot checks are
walks with a wide variety of common and anyone exceeding
cultural themes and historical Company Wulf costs around buildings and periods, as well the limit is likely to face a hefty
topics. Contact the Wiener €55 for four persons, rising to as themes like cuisine. fine and loss of licence.
Tourismusverband (see p238) €105 for an hour. Trams are a good way of EU drivers need no extra
for more information. seeing the 19th-century build- documentation. But North
Exploring Vienna on foot ings in the Ringstrasse because American and other non-EU
is not without its hazards. Traffic- Cycling you can choose where to get on drivers are required by law to
rarely stops at pedestrian With 1,300 km (800 miles) of and off. Organized tours are run have an international driving
crossings, so it is wise to be dedicated bike paths, Vienna by the Tram Museum in a 1920s licence to complement their
cautious when crossing the is a great city for cyclists. A 7-km tram from a meeting point at own country’s documents.
road. British and Australian (4-mile) cycle path round the Otto Wagner’s Karlsplatz Pavilions
visitors should remember that Ringstrasse takes you past many (see pp150–51). Private groups
motorists drive on the right. In historic sights, and there are may also hire a vintage tram to Parking
addition, keep an eye out for also bike paths to the Prater go to the Prater or a Heuriger, or Parking regulations can be
cyclists; some official cycle lanes (see pp164–5) and to the simply to tour the city. confusing. The standard red
Tourists walking in the gardens at Schönbrunn Palace are actually on the pedestrian Hundertwasserhaus (see p166). DDSG–Blue Danube organizes circle with red X inside, denoting
pavement, and bikers have legal If you are a keen cyclist, look tours on the Danube River and a forbidden zone, in Vienna also
Green Travel p252). These have fixed, right of way. At all times, out for Radkarte, a booklet the Danube Canal to sights such has Anfang (beginning) and Ende
As one of the greenest cities inexpensive rates for runs to pedestrians should take care illustrating all of Vienna’s cycle as Otto Wagner’s Nussdorf (end) signs to mark the zone.
in Europe, Vienna has invested public transport hubs but can not to walk along bike paths routes, which is available from locks. From April to October the The City of Vienna operates a
heavily in an impressive array carry only two passengers and tramlines, as this is bookshops. Bicycles can be Twin City Liner, a high-speed park and pay scheme in districts
of environmentally-friendly with minimal bags. prohibited. On the Ringstrasse, rented at some train stations catamaran, makes a round trip 1–9, 12, 14–17 and 20 from 9am
transport initiatives. A highly Cycling is important to Vienna’s trams run against the traffic, so (discounts are given with a to Bratislava three times a day. to 10pm Mondays to Fridays (see
efficient public transport system environmental con cerns, and an looking both ways is essential. train ticket), or from any of the From May to September, p252). Parking disks are sold
and 1,300 km (800 miles) of entire vehicle-free housing Jaywalking is illegal in Vienna, 100 or so Citybike stations. cycling enthusiasts can book at newsagents (Tabak Trafiken),
bicycle paths offer viable eco- development has been built in and this law is enforced by To use a Citybike, you need to tours through Pedal Power some banks and petrol stations.
friendly alternatives to driving the capital. “Bike City” focuses police – even if the roads are register first with a debit or (pedalpower.at) or Vienna Usually, a maximum stay of 2
through the city. Over 1,000 on the needs of cyclists with quiet. To avoid a hefty fine, it credit card, either online or at Explorer, which offers ebikes for hours is allowed in any space.
rechargeable electrically the whole complex benefitting is important to abide by the the station’s terminal, for a older folks and seats for children. In other districts, a blue line by
powered ebikes are available from easy access bicycle paths signals at the pedestrian one-off fee of €1; when the Segway public tours run from the kerb indicates a pay and
for hire at very affordable rates and excellent direct links to crossings; do not cross a road bike is returned, the charge April to October, and the 3-hour display scheme. Underground
from nearly 100 strategically public transportation. when a red figure is showing. (maximum €4 per hour) is excursion includes a brief lesson parking in the city centre
positioned stations throughout calculated automatically and on how to ride the Segway can cost €8 for one hour or
the city (see Cycling). Almost debited from your account. personal transport. €40 per day.
every part of the metropolis is Walking Fiaker Some cycle lanes are on
accessible by public transport There is no better way to see Traditional horse-drawn open pavements, and cyclists have
and timetables for trams, buses, the city than to walk around carriages or Fiakers, many right of way. It is permitted to
underground and trains neatly Vienna at your own pace. driven by a bowler-hatted and ignore one-way rules in
dovetail each other. Inexpensive Major sights and attractions are whiskered coachman, are a residential districts.
tickets and discounted fares conveniently clustered together novel and relaxing way to get
for combined use of all modes in close proximity and attractive around. Remember that part Guided Tours
of transport ensure the streets are peppered with of the route is on the busy
network is very popular with inviting cafés and cake shops. Ring strasse. You can hire a Fiaker Vienna Sightseeing is the
locals and tourists alike. The area around Kärntner at Stephansplatz, Heldenplatz largest operator of group
The ultimate green transport- Strasse, Stock-im-Eisen-Platz or Albertinaplatz. A 20-minute tours by bus. But there are also
ation in Vienna are the pedicab and Graben is entirely traffic ride from Stephansplatz to hundreds of individual guides
taxis known as Faxi Taxi (see free. Numerous tour companies Michalerplatz with Carriage with expertise in specific Cycling by the Danube Canal

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