It was to be expected: there were numerous controversial reactions and comments to the OÖN article published today, which dealt with the planned rainbow crosswalk. There were more than 300 comments on Facebook. Of course, this is nothing new, because it has also been the subject of heated and controversial discussions in other cities in the past. The bright colors, which stand as a sign of equal treatment for people of all sexual orientations, were a topic in the Rieder municipal council on Wednesday evening.
Before the meeting of the Rieder municipal councils, city chief Bernhard Zwielehner said that he was assuming a majority for a colorful pedestrian crossing in the area of Friedrich-Thurner-Strasse on the corner of Froschaugasse and Markplatz. Zwielehner was right, but the colorful zebra crossing was discussed anyway.
Long discussion
Christian Stockinger from MFG started things off: We believe that a zebra crossing should serve to regulate traffic. However, it should not be used to convey political information. There is a risk of being distracted on the road by the bright colors. We demand an examination by a road safety expert, because who is liable in the event of an accident,” said Stockinger.
“Much of what the MFG colleague said is true. To be honest, I don’t know whether this is within a legally compliant framework.” Here one should first create legal certainty. “Therefore I propose that this agenda item be postponed. I wonder if discussing a colorful crosswalk is really such a high priority. Many people don’t know what they can still afford in the coming months and we are discussing a colored zebra crossing, which also costs money,” said FPÖ councilor Heimo Katzlberger.
“The fact that we still need this symbolism today has been seen in many comments on social networks. That’s when you get scared and anxious. No one has any damage, the costs amount to a few hundred euros. In general, two-thirds are in favor and a third are against,” said SPÖ Deputy Mayor Peter Stummer.
“A flag or a poster is okay, but please not on the street, that causes confusion. I don’t think it’s a good idea,” said Wolfgang Schönleitner, municipal councilor of the ÖVP.
ÖVP party colleague, City Councilor Josef Heissbauer, had a different opinion: “For us, this rainbow crosswalk is a sign of a tolerant and open society. I share this opinion with my entire family. I can support the proposal 100 percent.”
“I’m very much for tolerance and social issues, but if I don’t have that in my heart, it doesn’t help me on the street,” said MFG councilor Petra Saleh-Agha.
“It’s about a sign of tolerance. Same-sex marriage has only been possible in Austria since 2019. These people were confronted with hostilities for a very long time. If we set a small sign now, it will be good for a city that wants to be cosmopolitan face to face,” said ÖVP Deputy Mayor Claudia Schossleitner.
“It’s about openness and solidarity. We’re a city of tolerance, so of course we’re going to decide on this rainbow crosswalk,” emphasized Green City Councilor Lukas Oberwagner.
It’s too dangerous, after all it’s about road safety,” said FPÖ parliamentary group leader Christian Bangerl.
Majority for a colorful zebra crossing
After the long, sometimes very heated discussion, a vote was then taken. First about Katzlberger’s supplementary motion to postpone the item on the agenda again. This majority rejected.
The creation of the rainbow crosswalk was decided by a majority with the votes of the SPÖ, Greens, NEOS and several ÖVP mandates. Four ÖVP politicians voted against, two abstained. The MFG and the Freedom Party spoke out against the colorful zebra crossing.
There was no majority for a second rainbow crosswalk on Haager Strasse. After another heated discussion about the presence at the vote between Katzlberger (FPÖ) and Kitzmüller (NEOS), the agenda could be continued.
Tomorrow there will be a vote in Braunau
Tomorrow evening the Braunau municipal council will also vote on a rainbow protection path on the town square. The application was submitted by the SPÖ. An outcome of the voting result not really foreseeable. “It will be a tight decision,” says Rudi Eiblmaier, SPÖ municipal councilor, who submitted the application.
Source: Nachrichten
