Accessibility: "Access City Award 2025" for Vienna

The award, organized by the European Commission and the European Disability Forum, goes to cities that "make significant efforts to become more accessible for people with disabilities". The winners were announced at an award ceremony as part of the conference on the European Day of People with Disabilities on Friday in Brussels.

"Access City Award 2025": Vienna Successful

The 1st, 2nd and 3rd place of the Access City Award 2025 come with prize money of 150,000, 120,000 and 80,000 euros respectively. This year, 57 cities with at least 50,000 inhabitants applied, with 33 being pre-selected by national juries. In addition to Vienna, Borås (Sweden), Cartagena (Spain) and Nuremberg (Germany) made it to the finals. On the occasion of the Olympic and Paralympic Games 2024, the Commission also awarded a special mention on the topic of "Accessible Sports Infrastructure" to a city.

Helena Dalli, EU Commissioner for Equality, awarded the prize to the city of Vienna. According to the EU Commission, projects such as accessible swimming pools, intelligent traffic lights and the promotion of integration in the areas of housing and employment have significantly contributed to making Vienna more accessible and inclusive. All subway stations and over 95 percent of bus and tram stops are barrier-free, and tactile guidance systems, low-floor vehicles and multisensory emergency systems are available.

"Nothing About Us, Without Us"

Erich Schmid, one of the vice presidents of the Austrian Disability Council, is pleased that Vienna, in addition to being the "most livable capital" and "capital of democracy", has now also received the 15th Access City Award. The European Disability Forum has set up a participatory process in which people with disabilities could participate in the national and international jury, under the motto: "Nothing about us, without us". However, Erich Schmid emphasizes that there is "still plenty to do in the coming years so that no one is left behind". He attended the award ceremony and the conference on the European Day of People with Disabilities organized in Brussels.

The selection criteria of the juries include already implemented as well as planned measures in the areas of built environment and public spaces, transport as well as information and communication: According to the EU Commission, an accessible city enables people with disabilities to use public transport and public spaces such as parks and playgrounds. Barrier-free access to buildings such as town halls, libraries and sports halls and access to their services as well as to information (online and offline) must also be guaranteed.

The annual conference on the "European Day of People with Disabilities" (EDPD) is organized by the European Commission in partnership with the European Disability Forum. The conference aims to raise awareness of the everyday challenges of people with disabilities and to address them. As the City Award is being awarded for the 15th time this year, the accessibility of cities is at the center of the conference this year.

Ludwig: "Significant Recognition"

"The awarding of the Access City Award is a significant recognition of Vienna's long-standing commitment to improving the quality of life for all people in our city," commented Mayor Michael Ludwig (SPÖ) according to a press release. Since 2004, the Vienna Anti-Discrimination Act has regulated access to services and offers without discrimination. In 2008, the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities was ratified and has since been guiding action. With the strategy "Inclusive Vienna 2030 - a city for all", Vienna is taking a further step towards social inclusion, beyond the legal requirements, it continues.

(APA/Red)

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