A new step towards a car-free city: Munich is expanding the pedestrian zone – “We want to take big steps”

Created: 07/03/2022 06:14

By: Klaus Vick

This is what the valley in Munich should look like once.

© Visualization: Andreas Gregor/Greens

Now it should be quick: Green-Red wants to ban cars from the area between Marienplatz and Isartor.

The implementation should already take place in 2023 - a sporty plan.

Munich – It's been half a century since the late former mayor Hans-Jochen Vogel (SPD) opened the Munich pedestrian zone on Neuhauser Strasse.

Since then, there have always been smaller extensions, the last big hit was the conversion of Sendlinger Straße in 2019.

Now, with the valley, another larger area of ​​the old town is to be freed from individual traffic.

The town hall government made it clear on Friday that they want to get serious about the goal of a largely car-free old town, which is anchored in the coalition agreement.

There was talk of a "future-oriented urban repair for a better quality of life" in Munich.

The current traffic situation in the valley.

© Oliver Bodmer

Munich's pedestrian zone is being expanded - that was the trigger

The trigger for this rapid reaction is the delay in the construction of the second trunk line well into the 2030s.

SPD faction leader Anne Hübner: "We can't wait that long with the conversion." Because the traffic to the main line construction site at Marienhof is handled via the valley, the Greens and SPD had previously put the pedestrian zone plans on hold.

According to the ideas of the coalition, construction site traffic should in future be handled via Maximilianstraße.

In any case, this is "much less critical in practice than it seems," as SPD traffic expert Nikolaus Gradl noted.

Before the summer break, the town hall coalition wants to commission the administration to draw up plans for the redesign of the valley.

The 300 meter long Westenriederstraße, which leads from the Isartor to the Viktualienmarkt, is also to become a pedestrian zone.

A new festival is also planned for Munich.

"We now want to take big steps" - implementation already planned by 2023

After a short pilot phase, the pedestrian zone is to be implemented as early as 2023.

Green party leader Mona Fuchs admitted that the timeline was ambitious.

"But we now want to take big steps." The valley has "huge potential to set standards for the design of modern urbanity".

Florian Roth, ex-group leader of the Greens, said a jewel like the valley could not continue to be clogged with traffic jams.

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There are currently 29 parking spaces in the valley, a little less in Westenriederstraße.

In the future there will only be parking zones for residents and delivery traffic.

Taxis should also be allowed for people with restricted mobility to visit the doctor.

It has not yet been clarified what will happen to the existing taxi stands or the 132 city bus.

The city government can imagine a shuttle service with small electric vehicles throughout the pedestrian zone.

Nikolaus Gradl (left), Anne Hübner, Mona Fuchs and Florian Roth.

© Oliver Bodmer

At the same time, the valley is to be upgraded with more greenery and possibly with an uncovered town stream.

According to the Greens and SPD, the ideas developed by residents at a workshop should be taken up in the redesign.

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Expansion of Munich's pedestrian zone: That's what Mayor Reiter says

Mayor Dieter Reiter (SPD), who recently commented on the Oktoberfest 2022, supports the plans: "The people of Munich want more quality of life now, not only in ten or 15 years." Rejection comes from the FDP.

Group leader Jörg Hoffmann speaks of a "hasty conversion" that will be at the expense of residents and tradespeople.

The managing director of the city center retail agency CityPartner, Wolfgang Fischer, is also skeptical.

It is not expedient to "pretty up a street and produce traffic chaos in the area," explains Fischer.

Rather, what is needed is a development concept for the entire district that also takes into account the interests of companies and residents.

The passenger association "Pro Bahn" notes that the future of bus line 132 must be considered.

Bus stops close to the center around Marienplatz and at the Viktualienmarkt are important for many people.

Margarethe Stadlbauer, spokeswoman for the Tal citizens' initiative, can live with the plans, even if there are still many conflicting goals to be resolved.

To do this, you have to stay in dialogue with residents, tradespeople and doctors during the implementation phase, she emphasizes.

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