Page 253 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Vienna

GE T TING AROUND VIENNA  251

Driving
Priority is always given to the
right unless a yellow diamond
indicates otherwise. Unlike in
other EU countries, Austrian
stoplights blink rapidly in green
before switching to amber.
Trams, buses, police cars, fire
engines and ambulances all
have right of way. Vienna’s speed
limit is 50 km (30 miles) per hour.
Police carry out checks with
infrared guns and can issue fines
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
Tourists in a horse-drawn cab outside the Michaelertrakt at the Hofburg Complex glasses of wine). Spot checks are
common and anyone exceeding
Company Wulf costs around buildings and periods, as well the limit is likely to face a hefty
€55 for four persons, rising to as themes like cuisine. fine and loss of licence.
€105 for an hour. Trams are a good way of EU drivers need no extra
seeing the 19th-century build- documentation. But North
ings in the Ringstrasse because American and other non-EU
Cycling
you can choose where to get on drivers are required by law to
With 1,300 km (800 miles) of and off. Organized tours are run have an international driving
dedicated bike paths, Vienna by the Tram Museum in a 1920s licence to complement their
is a great city for cyclists. A 7-km tram from a meeting point at own country’s documents.
(4-mile) cycle path round the Otto Wagner’s Karlsplatz Pavilions
Ringstrasse takes you past many (see pp150–51). Private groups
historic sights, and there are may also hire a vintage tram to Parking
also bike paths to the Prater go to the Prater or a Heuriger, or Parking regulations can be
(see pp164–5) and to the simply to tour the city. confusing. The standard red
Hundertwasserhaus (see p166). DDSG–Blue Danube organizes circle with red X inside, denoting
If you are a keen cyclist, look tours on the Danube River and a forbidden zone, in Vienna also
out for Radkarte, a booklet the Danube Canal to sights such has Anfang (beginning) and Ende
illustrating all of Vienna’s cycle as Otto Wagner’s Nussdorf (end) signs to mark the zone.
routes, which is available from locks. From April to October the The City of Vienna operates a
bookshops. Bicycles can be Twin City Liner, a high-speed park and pay scheme in districts
rented at some train stations catamaran, makes a round trip 1–9, 12, 14–17 and 20 from 9am
(discounts are given with a to Bratislava three times a day. to 10pm Mondays to Fridays (see
train ticket), or from any of the From May to September, p252). Parking disks are sold
100 or so Citybike stations. cycling enthusiasts can book at newsagents (Tabak Trafiken),
To use a Citybike, you need to tours through Pedal Power some banks and petrol stations.
register first with a debit or (pedalpower.at) or Vienna Usually, a maximum stay of 2
credit card, either online or at Explorer, which offers ebikes for hours is allowed in any space.
the station’s terminal, for a older folks and seats for children. In other districts, a blue line by
one-off fee of €1; when the Segway public tours run from the kerb indicates a pay and
bike is returned, the charge April to October, and the 3-hour display scheme. Underground
(maximum €4 per hour) is excursion includes a brief lesson parking in the city centre
calculated automatically and on how to ride the Segway can cost €8 for one hour or
debited from your account. personal transport. €40 per day.
Some cycle lanes are on
pavements, and cyclists have
right of way. It is permitted to
ignore one-way rules in
residential districts.

Guided Tours
Vienna Sightseeing is the
largest operator of group
tours by bus. But there are also
hundreds of individual guides
with expertise in specific Cycling by the Danube Canal

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