Vienna’s public transport operator, Wiener Linien, has found itself at the center of a heated cultural dispute following the launch of its “Host kan Genierer?” (Aren’t you ashamed?) campaign.
The initiative aims to restore public decorum by discouraging disruptive habits such as loud phone conversations, watching videos without headphones, and consuming pungent food in enclosed spaces.
Transport councillor Ulli Sima defended the move, asserting that in a system used by millions,
clear rules and mutual consideration are essential
to ensure that shared spaces remain a place of “respect.” The campaign is backed by data showing that 86% of passengers feel disturbed by noise pollution on their commutes.
However, the migrant non-governmental organization “Black Voices Austria” has condemned the effort as a “racist campaign.” While the posters themselves do not depict specific ethnicities, the organization argues that rules targeting loud talking or video use are “seemingly neutral” yet “immediately racially charged.”
They contend that such etiquette standards could incite the public to “attack Black people, Muslims, and people of color.” Furthermore, the group claims that long-standing bans on “strongly scented foods” are fundamentally based on “racist prejudices.”
This is not the first controversy involving Vienna’s public transportation. Most recently, discounts offered to queer people have sparked outrage in the city.
