Vienna Public Transport Cancels Free Annual Pass for Blind and Deaf People

The city of Vienna has abolished the free annual pass for severely visually impaired, blind, or deaf people. This affects around 2,700 individuals who previously benefited from this reimbursement, as reported by ORF Vienna.

"Special Annual Pass" instead of Free Offer

In the future, affected individuals have the option to purchase a "Special Annual Pass" for 300 euros. This pass is available to Viennese residents with a disability degree of at least 70 percent.

Criticism from the Association of the Blind

The Association of the Blind, represented by Chairman Kurt Prall, expresses strong dissatisfaction with the discontinuation of the free annual pass. The decision is seen as a significant financial disadvantage for those affected. The organization's assessments highlight concerns about the impact of this measure on the affected individuals.

The Vienna city government, represented by Finance City Councillor Barbara Novak from the SPÖ, explains that the decision is part of the city's savings goals, which amount to a total of 500 million euros. The Vienna Social Fund (FSW) has defended the measure, emphasizing that the discontinuation of this voluntary support contributes to budget consolidation.

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