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VIENNA

How to get your bicycle serviced for free in Vienna this summer

The City of Vienna is offering free bike checks in front of the city's public outdoor pools over July and August. Here is how you can get your bike serviced.

Published: 12 July 2022 17:10 CEST
How to get your bicycle serviced for free in Vienna this summer
Mobility Agency Vienna: Campaign "Mit dem Rad ins Bad" offers free bike checks in front of Vienna's outdoor swimming pools. (Copyright: ©Mobilitätsagentur/Christian Fürthner)

More and more people are using their bikes as means of transport in Austria. In 2021, around 68 percent of the Austrian population said they owned a bike and 22 percent planned to buy a new one in the next two years.

During summer, it seems that the number of bicycles on the streets is even higher, especially in Vienna, a relatively flat city with plenty of bike lanes and where most of the public transport maintenance work takes place during the summer vacation months.

READ ALSO: Summer traffic chaos: Construction work to be aware of in Vienna

If you are a bike rider, you know how important it is to have your bike serviced periodically to keep riding safely. In Vienna, you can get your bicycles checked for free at several points near the city’s outdoor pools in July and August.

“We invite the Viennese to have their bicycles checked”, said the director of the Mobility Agency Vienna, Martim Blum.

“Get the bike serviced, enjoy your time in the Viennese outdoor pools, and enjoy the summer. This is why we have the Mit dem Rad ins Bad (with the bike to the pool) action”.

What are the checks and how do they work?

“The gearshift and brakes are checked and adjusted if necessary. The most important screws are tightened. This increases safety and also cycling love because a well-maintained bike is even more fun,” says Blum.

The mobile service station stops 19 times on several days just in front of Vienna’s bathing areas. The “first-come, first-served” principle applies to the bike checks and only one bicycle is serviced per person.

READ ALSO: EXPLAINED: How Austria is making life easier for cyclists and pedestrians

The check focuses on the bicycle’s essential components – wheels, brakes and gearshift. These will be re-adjusted if necessary. It is recommended to visit a bicycle workshop or shop for major repairs.

When and where can I get my bike checked?

Here are the dates and locations at a glance:

  • Sunday, 10. July – 10 am to 7 pm – Gänsehäufel
  • Tuesday, 12. July – 3 pm to 7 pm – Laaerbergbad
  • Thursday, 14. July – 3 pm to 7 pm – Großfeldsiedlungsbad
  • Saturday, 16. July – 10 am to 7 pm – Copa Beach
  • Sunday, 17. July – 10 am to 7 pm – Simmeringer Bad
  • Thursday, 21. July – 3 pm to 7 pm – Hietzinger Bad
  • Saturday, 23. July – 10 am to 7 pm – Höpferbad
  • Sunday, 24. July – 10 am to 7 pm – Angelibad
  • Thursday, 28. July – 3 pm to 7 pm – Laaerbergbad
  • Saturday, 30. July – 10 am to 7 pm – Großfeldsiedlungsbad
  • Sunday, 31. July – 10 am to 7 pm – Hietziger Bad
  • Tuesday, 02. August – 3 pm to 7 pm – Simmeringer Bad
  • Thursday, 04. August – 3 pm to 7 pm – Copa Beach
  • Saturday, 06. August – 10 am to 7 pm – Gänsehäufel
  • Sunday, 07. August – 10 am to 7 pm – Laaerbergbad
  • Thursday, 11. August – 3 pm to 7 pm – Simmeringer Bad
  • Saturday, 13. August – 10 am to 7 pm – Angelibad
  • Sunday, 14. August – 10 am to 7 pm – Höpferbad
  • Montag, 15. August – 10 am to 7 pm – Copa Beach

You can find more information here.

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VIENNA

How do I lower my rent if I pay too much in Vienna?

If you live in an older building, a so called "Altbau", the price per square meter is regulated. If you are paying too much rent, there are ways to lower it and claim your money back.

Published: 24 April 2024 12:53 CEST
How do I lower my rent if I pay too much in Vienna?

Vienna is known for offering its residents affordable rents. However, if you live in one of the older apartments in Vienna (Altbau), you should know that there is a limit on how much rent can be charged per square meter.

Some landlords rent out their flats more expensively than they are actually allowed to. The City of Vienna’s rent calculator can help you determine if you are paying too much.

If you believe that your rent is too high, there are three different options on how to bring it down and also get the money back from the time when you paid too much.

Hire a company to take on your case

In Vienna, several companies, known as Prozessfinanzierer in German, will take on your case individually and try to reduce your rent. This could not only result in a lower rent for the future but also in you receiving a refund for the period you overpaid. It is even possible to pursue this after you leave your apartment. 

However, the City of Vienna has warned against using these services. If you are successful, the companies could claim a great portion of the refunded money, ranging from 30 percent to even half. MeinBezirk also reported occasions when employees of these companies have gone door to door, pretending to be city officials to secure contracts with excessively high commission payments.

Tenant protection organisations argue, as cited in Der Standard, that the companies may prioritise their profits over the best interests of tenants, negatively impacting tenant-landlord relationships.

However, these companies typically operate on a ‘no win-no fee’ basis, which means that you do not have to pay anything if the reduction attempt is unsuccessful. 

READ MORE: Gemeindebau: How do you qualify for a social housing flat in Vienna?

Get help from the Mietervereinigung

Another option is to get help from the Mietervereinigung. This is a tenants’ association that supports tenants’ rights and interests. A yearly membership costs around €69 in Vienna (it also operates in Austria’s other federal states).

Once you are a member, you can go to them for help. They will assist you with claiming back your rent if you have been overpaying, and can also help with rental problems such as mould, contracts, painting, disputes with landlords and housing standards. 

The association also offer education and information to help you understand your rights and responsibilities under landlord-tenant laws. This includes workshops and seminars about topics related to housing rights and regulations.

The association is also known for publishing guides, brochures, and online resources with practical tips for dealing with common rental issues.

The Mietervereinigung offers services and guidance for its members over the phone, online or through meetings in person. 

Altbau in Alsegrund, district 9 in Vienna. Photo by Melloo on Unsplash

Do it yourself

The third option you have as a tenant is to go to the arbitration board yourself.

The arbitration board is an independent entity established to help resolve conflicts between tenants and landlords outside of the court system. However, this can sometimes be complicated.

You often need certain legal expertise to be successful and the process can be complex and time consuming.

READ NEXT: How does urban gardening work in Vienna?

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