2 March 2019

Vienna Insight by Karin Sawetz: Urban traffic choices

Yesterday, I tried a new vehicle combination to travel through the city of Vienna and got incidentally into conversation with people on train about the folding bike that was bought exactly for the reason to get packed into a car or get on tour with public service vehicles; last mentioned is the better choice for urban traffic - faster and less stress. A folded bicycle can be transported on train or bus at any time as it's considered as a piece of luggage.

From the different conversations held in diverse underground trains, one question was central: "How much did it cost?" The people were astonished about the low price as the bike has the appeal of an expensive luxury good. Perhaps it's also the attractive design of the mountain folding bike with 6-speed Shimano circuit, very effective 70mm V-breaks at the 20" city tires for comfortable riding on various terrains. Everything what needed is already installed such as reflectors or bell. The lamp set was part of the package and fixed on that day.

The luxury appeal can be explained. Luxury in the field of vehicles isn't so much based on a fashionable look - even when this criterion shouldn't be underestimated. It's rather the obvious functionality of the vehicle, the perfect interplay between the single parts or with other words the reasonable, practical design to achieve the best results for the targeted usage such as comfortable urban traffic in combination with public transport services. One woman told me that such a bike would be great as she can't walk longer distances and doesn't dare to cycle long tours on streets. Another woman asked two times after the price and said - more to herself, in a way as thinking loudly - that normally such bikes are more expensive and that cycling is a nice activity. A man spoke about a chance for commuters who come with their cars from outside of the city and park in outer districts or nearby Vienna.

The story of what happened this afternoon could be continued by incidents such as - only to mention one more, that two very polite young men helped to carry the unisex, unfortunately not very light bike over a staircase. The weight of the bike could be improved - especially with regard to female customers.

It was a nice afternoon in the city's underground and on Vienna's streets. No grumpy Viennese sighted on that sunny day!

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