Vienna’s car-free experiment slashes costs and emissions without sacrificing mobility
A month-long experiment in Vienna has shown that giving up private cars can cut costs and emissions without limiting mobility. The 'Car-Free Challenge' involved 46 people from 37 households, chosen from nearly 3,000 applicants. Each participant received €500 in credit for buses, trains, bikes, and other transport options.
Before the challenge, 28 percent of all trips were made by car. After switching to alternatives, that figure fell to 19 percent. Despite the shift, participants did not spend significantly more time travelling. Instead, they covered about 20 kilometres daily by public transport—a 50 percent increase compared to before.
Over three months, the group reduced CO₂ emissions by 5.5 metric tons. They also spent 40 percent less on transport than usual. Many found the change so effective that nearly half have either sold their cars or plan to after the trial. The biggest hurdle came when travelling outside Vienna. Rural areas with limited public transport made car-free trips harder. Still, most participants managed without major difficulties. The project was run by Mobilitätsagentur Wien in partnership with Wiener Linien and Vienna’s 18th district, Währing. Its aim was to test whether living without a private car could remain practical and affordable.
The results suggest that ditching private vehicles can lower expenses and pollution while keeping travel times stable. Nearly half of the households now intend to sell their cars permanently. The findings may encourage more cities to promote car-free alternatives for daily transport.
