On Monday I made an effort to join the very first AFTER WORK WALK, organized by Wildurb that great company/community I already told you about on this blog. It was a great little event, hosted by Bella, a passionate "URB" who guided us - more or less  along the "Stadtwanderweg" through the Prater Allee... 

To me, still a newbie to Vienna, this was an amazing insight in how green Vienna is just a few steps away from the very busy, and not so attractive Prater Stern. It was great to see that  "URBS" who joined the event on Facebook, did turn up in "reality" as well. Although we'll have to work on those numbers. It was 17 "going" - at the actual event we were 7 walkers... joined by Nicolas - a "WALK IN" - who happily joined our little walking community along the way... 

If anyone out there is interested in the "Walking topic" - and I guess you would be, why would you read this otherwise - I'd suggest you like them on facebook here to join the community and be up to date with their work... and walks :-)

I'll be definitely trying to join the next Event again! 

Yesterday I was interviewed by Doris Rittberger from Wild Urb about my passion for walking... 

They are producing a sequence of interviews with Viennese residents, who are discovering their city by foot.  

Also like them on Facebook for getting great input/updates about "Walking in Vienna"! 

Feel free to check out my contribution on Youtube with a click on the picture.  :-)  

The location for the interview was at the "Wien Fluss" in Hietzing. Down by the river this trail is an amazing recreational area in the middle of Viennas 13th and 14th district. The trail meanders along the "Wien River" for about 7 kilometres and is a paradise for walkers and cyclists. 

After Cities like New York, Barcelona, London and Sydney it is "our" turn now. Vienna will be hosting the biggest Walking Conference "Walk21" in 2015. This is going  to be very exciting. Especially as Vienna is always amongst the cities with best lifestyle and quality of life index - it will be interesting to see this from the "walkability" perspective. 

"Walking is convenient, it needs no special equipment, is self-regulating and inherently safe. Walking is as natural as breathing".
John Butcher, Founder Walk21, 1999

A little bit of information about "WALK21":

Walk21 exists to champion the development of healthy sustainable and efficient communities where people choose to walk. 
Realizing that the people of the world are facing a series of inter-related, complex problems with becoming less healthy, inefficient transport systems and an environment under increasing pressure the founders of Walk21 are keen to create a culture where people choose to walk (again). 

The Charter identifies the needs of people on foot and provides a common framework to help authorities refocus their existing policies and activities to create such a walking culture.  The quality and amount of walking as an everyday activity, in any given area, is an established and unique primary indicator of the quality of life.

Through the Walk21 Conference series and the International Charter, Walk21 have a vision to create a world where people choose and are able to walk as a way to travel, to be healthy and to relax.

On a personal note: Walk21 Conference is held in Sydney, Australia in October 2014. As a former resident and walking addict of that city I might try to get myself a ticket to attend.  Well, time is running, I better see what options there are to get me there.  :-) 

Obviously there is a lot happening in Vienna regarding pedestrianism. After the year of the bicycle in 2013, Vienna is now concentrating on walking. With "Walk21" the worlds biggest conference about walking, is coming to the city in 2015. 

Vienna on Foot  points out the advantages of walking instead of using other transport. It addresses the problems associated with New Urbanism and attempts to reduce the role of the automobile through creating a neighborhood utilizing as much Pedestrianism as possible.

On the website they gather on the one side all sorts of walking events happening, but also provide information about pedestrianism, safety and accessability of the city. 


Check out www.wienzufuss.at to find more information about the Walking City.   

So I thought I will start allover again in Vienna with my "walkability" project once settled in. Well, we eventually moved from the country life in my hometown in Upper Austria to the "Big Apple" Vienna in February. Little did I know until then, that there is already an amazing community here, called "WildURB".  

The vision of founders of "Wildurb" is as simple as that: They want to increase the general sense for Walking in the community and it's enjoyable benefits. 
They offer a variety of short walking tours, hiking tours off the beaten track and sightseeing strolls in the beautiful city of Vienna. These walks are published in their books, and some of them also on their website. Check it out for more information. 
www.wildurb.at 

Seems like they already do cover a lot of what my walkability concept is about, and they do it really well. So the question for me is - does Vienna need my "walkability"? For now I have set my goal in researching the existing companies and communities and am happy to just blog a bit on my website. We'll see if there is a little niche for my walking business. I'm in no hurry.