Member in the Spotlight: Vienna
POLIS: Vienna is known as a model city for gender mainstreaming, being one of the first in Europe to use this approach in urban planning and design. Why does gender mainstreaming matter for cities, and how has Vienna successfully incorporated it into its transport policies?
'Gender-inclusive planning means paying attention to thousands of small details: How well-lit is a pedestrian route? How long does someone have to wait for a green light at a crossing?' Photo credit: Ceyda Çiftci
Vienna began discussing the differing mobility needs of carers—who are mostly women—compared to those who primarily engage in paid work with fewer care responsibilities—who are mostly men—34 years ago. The opening of the exhibition 'Who Owns the Public Space? Women in the City' in 1991 sparked both great interest and controversy. Some critics dismissed it, with comments such as, 'The next step will be an exhibition about dogs in the city.' However, the exhibition opened the door to a gender-sensitive analysis of urban space—one that has remained a priority ever since.
Mobility quickly became a central issue, as carers, particularly mothers, face complex logistical challenges while often having fewer financial resources. This led to discussions about the width of pavements, accessible public transport, and safer pedestrian crossings. Even something as basic as street lighting had to be reconsidered—previously, only car lanes were illuminated, leaving pavements and cycle paths in darkness.
POLIS: One essential aspect of gender mainstreaming is inclusive participation, and co-creation has become more prevalent in sustainable urban mobility initiatives across Europe. How does Vienna involve women and other underrepresented groups in its planning and decision-making processes for mobility initiatives?
Participation is crucial for understanding the diverse realities of daily mobility needs. In Vienna, we use various methods to engage different target groups across the city. One key initiative is Lokale Agenda 21, which originated from the United Nations’ 1992 Agenda 21 programme and places a special focus on women and girls.
Another initiative is Klimateams, a participatory budgeting programme that rotates through different districts. All district residents are invited to submit ideas, and a jury—randomly selected based on representative quotas—ensures women have equal influence in decision-making.
POLIS: Vienna recently won the 2025 Access City Award for its comprehensive approach to integrating accessibility into all aspects of urban life, including transport. How does gender mainstreaming contribute to the city's efforts to create more accessible and inclusive mobility systems?
Vienna's Supergrätzl concept involves a mix of measures that prevent motorised traffic while allowing cyclists and pedestrians full access. This improves safety, accessibility, and representation for women and children by prioritising walkability and reducing traffic risks. Photo credit: City of Vienna/Christian Fürthner
Vienna has a structured dialogue between representatives of various mobility needs and standardisation bodies. The Mobilitätsagentur (Mobility Agency) focuses on pedestrians and cyclists and provides training on accessibility for city departments.
Additionally, the Jugendmillion initiative allocates one million euros annually to projects proposed by young residents of Vienna. Many of these ideas focus on improving public spaces, such as better lighting, smoother road surfaces for scooters and skateboards, more drinking fountains, and extended public transport service hours.
Vienna has also made public transport more accessible and affordable through initiatives like the 365-Euro Ticket, which provides unlimited city-wide transport for just €1 per day. Students receive special discounted passes, even valid in neighbouring regions.
POLIS: What are the most significant challenges Vienna has faced in implementing gender mainstreaming in urban planning and mobility, and how have these been addressed? As a pioneer in this field, what advice would you give to other cities and regions aiming to follow suit?
One of the biggest challenges in recent years has been climate change, particularly summer heat waves. Every year, between 50,000 and 70,000 people in Europe die due to extreme heat—more than from traffic accidents. Women make up two-thirds of these victims.
Heat exposure is deeply linked to income inequality. Higher-income individuals typically have better housing, access to air conditioning, the ability to travel during heat waves, and private vehicles. In contrast, lower-income individuals—many of whom are women—live in poorer housing and must rely on public transport, even during the hottest parts of the day. Many tram and bus stops still lack shaded shelters, leading to surface temperatures of up to 60°C.
To address this, Vienna is prioritising the improvement of public spaces and waiting areas to provide better heat protection during the summer.
POLIS: Vienna has been experimenting with the ‘superblocks’ concept (Supergrätzl in German) as part of its Climate Roadmap. How do superblocks help create a more inclusive city for women and meet their unique needs?
The Supergrätzl concept transforms existing urban areas into high-quality public spaces, particularly around schools and residential areas (more information available here). We are now in the second phase of implementation, which involves concrete neighbourhood improvements such as new trees, additional benches, and more drinking fountains. This initiative aligns with the vision of a Caring City, fostering stronger community relationships and increasing trust among neighbours.
A key benefit of superblocks is the improvement of subjective security—how safe people feel in public spaces. More parents are comfortable letting their children play outside, leading to more interactions between boys and girls at neighbourhood crossings and school entrances. Lower-income residents, who often rely more on public spaces, benefit the most from these enhancements.
POLIS: Vienna is a city of pedestrians, with over a third of daily trips made on foot. What is the key to a walkable city? How has gender-inclusive planning contributed to this reality?
Gender-inclusive planning means paying attention to thousands of small details: How well-lit is a pedestrian route? How long does someone have to wait for a green light at a crossing? Is there enough shade in summer? Walking is also about experience—what do you see along the way? Are there interesting shopfronts, inviting courtyards, or public seating?
A major improvement in Vienna has been the introduction of Schulstraßen (school streets), where car traffic is restricted around schools during certain hours. This initiative encourages children to walk to school together, fostering independence and promoting walking as a sustainable habit from an early age.
POLIS: This year’s International Women’s Day theme is ‘Accelerate Action.’ Vienna has made remarkable progress in gender-inclusive mobility over the past 25 years, but what comes next? What are the city’s top priorities for advancing gender-sensitive transport and urban planning?
Several overlapping trends—such as demographic shifts and climate change—are creating new challenges. For example, the Baby Boomer generation is now transitioning into what we call Gerontoboomers, and they tend to rely more on cars. As they age, it’s crucial to ensure they can comfortably switch to public transport or shared mobility services, particularly during extreme summer heat.
However, many shared mobility services (e.g., bike-sharing, car-sharing) require digital booking systems and credit cards, which can exclude certain populations. A fair and inclusive city must ensure access to mobility services for those who are not digitally savvy or do not have access to online payment methods.
In short, our goal is to keep innovating while ensuring that no one is left behind.
To find out more about our campaign for International Women's Day and Women's History Month, click here.
