Neighbourhoods for All: Vienna Westgürtel
Services:
Research, Advocacy
Year:
2026
Partners:
Nighttime Foundation, Vienna Club Commission, SafeNow
How can nightlife and entertainment districts be made safer through better collaboration between clubs, organisers, and the local community – with less involvement from enforcement? To explore this, the Nighttime Foundation, together with VibeLab, the VCC, and SafeNow is launching a pilot project around the Vienna Gürtel, aiming to determine which additional safety structures can be implemented to make nighttime in Vienna safer for everyone.
What are the next steps?
From June to November 2026, the pilot will combine data-driven technology with grassroots engagement across three workstreams:
1.
A safety perception survey open to all residents and nightlife visitors to establish a baseline of how safe people feel in the area, and why. The results will directly shape where and how improvements can be made. This will be complemented by an on-site audit conducted by urban safety experts and urban researchers, who will assess the Brunnenviertel’s public spaces, and venues firsthand to ground the survey data in physical, on-the-ground observations.
2.
SafeNow Zones will be set up from June in participating venues and the surrounding streets. Within these zones, precise location tracking allows anyone in need of help to alert safety staff instantly at the push of a button — a discreet way to reach out, and a fast way for staff to respond. The SafeNow app is free of charge for the public and is already being used successfully in stadiums, clubs, and at major events. It is developed in Germany and handles data in line with the GDPR and processing of personal data complies with the requirements of the EU General Data Protection Regulation.
3. Onboarding and safety training for Brunnenviertel venue staff will run from May through July, covering de-escalation, harm reduction, and legal responsibilities. The curriculum draws on the Safer Feiern workshop series initiated by the Vienna Club Commission and funded by the City of Vienna's Women's Department and its Education and Youth department.
