- Title: 429 AT Vienna street pool
- Date: 7th August 2020
- Description:Temporary swimming pool opens on a busy street crossing in Vienna A swimming pool and a leisure area built at a highly frequented street crossing in Vienna, near the Westbahnhof train station on the Guertel road, were opened to the public on Saturday. The leisure area includes a lawn for sunbathing and a place for cultural events and workshops. Everybody can use the swimming pool and it is free. However, there are some restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic: a maximum of six people can use the pool at the same time. The temporary project has caused controversy. Car drivers say that the traffic will collapse. Some argue that it is the new way to look at the public space and that the traffic did not collapse during the construction work of the swimming pool. Others say it is for the people leaving in the districts nearby, therefore, there is no transport collapse threat. The project has cost 150,000 euros and will be in operation for three weeks. Shotlist - Top view of pool surrounded by streets - WS Swimming pool - PAN RIGHT/LEFT Traffic and new green area - VS People swimming in pool - VOXPOP (German) Girl 1: "I think it is a great idea." - VOXPOP (German) Girl 2: "A good idea to establish a pool in the middle of the city." - VOXPOP (German) Woman with hat: "I came here with mixed emotions because I thought that the cars are driving on the right and left sides, but it all fades out, it is a place to feel good." - VOXPOP (German) Woman in bathing suit 1: "Superb and refreshing on a day like that. I think it is really special in the middle of the traffic." - VOXPOP (German) Woman in bathing suit 2: "It is not about swimming somewhere, I think it is about showing that it doesn't have to be the way that there are seven lanes for car traffic, that it could be something completely different. The town does not belong to cars, but to people. So I think this is important." - VOXPOP (German) Man with green cap: "I think it is a great idea, but the place is wrong, it should be in a park." - VS People swimming in the pool - VOXPOP (German) Two boys: [answering a question: "How was it?"] "Cold, very cold." - MS People swimming in the pool - MS Traffic on the roads near pool - VOXPOP (German) Woman in car: "It is a nonsense." [Reporter asking: "Why?"] "Why? Totally, stupid. They should have used the money for better things." - MS Traffic on the roads near pool - SOUNDBITE (German) Birgit Hebein, vice mayor of Vienna (Green Party): "Some days ago we had a huge crossing here with seven lanes for the traffic, now we have established a green oasis with a pool for the inhabitants here, to cool down and chill here with a cultural program and other activities." - VS Police in the area on duty - SOUNDBITE (German) Dominik Nepp, head of Freedom Party in Vienna, opposition: "I do not have bathing trunks with me. I think there are better places to go swimming. Therefore I don´t need to close one of the most frequented crossings on the Guertel, it is an harassment against car drivers. It is an ideological project which costs a lot, around 150,000 euros, and only six people can go into the pool." - VS Birgit Hebein opening ceremony the pool and saying (German): "The pool is open." - Top view of the pool
- Collection: ORF
- Genre:News
- Producer:ORF
- Transmission Date:08/08/2020
- Decade: 2020s