Park troubles in Munich: "Far too often, sidewalks are annexed by drivers"

Created: 07/12/2022, 09:04

By: Klaus Vick

City Councilor Sonja Haider (ÖDP) shows how narrow it gets on the sidewalk if you park incorrectly.

© Oliver Bodmer

Parked sidewalks are increasingly becoming a nuisance, especially for people with disabilities or parents with prams.

The ÖDP calls for stronger intervention by the authorities.

Munich - For example at Freiburger Platz in Laim.

ÖDP city councilor Sonja Haider takes out the meter rule and measures the distance between a parked car and the hedge on the edge of the sidewalk.

There is 60 centimeters of space left.

More than one person cannot pass here in one direction.

What the ÖDP wants to demonstrate with this individual case is a problem on numerous streets in the Munich city area.

"Far too often, sidewalks are annexed by motorists," explains Haider.

She demands that the city and the police must take more consistent action against illegal parkers in order to ensure the safety of pedestrians, people with restricted mobility and children.

What the ÖDP also found during an inspection in Laim: Often even private garages are available, "but they are not used for parking but as storage space".

Munich: Parking on the sidewalk is prohibited according to the StVO

Parking on sidewalks in Munich is generally only permitted where there are appropriate signs or marked areas.

Or for craftsmen and social services with special permission from the city.

Otherwise, parking on the sidewalk is prohibited according to the Road Traffic Act.

According to the district administration department (KVR), a fine of 55 euros is due.

If the inspectors determine that the vehicle has been stopped for more than an hour, it is 70 euros and 80 euros in the event of a disability.

There is also a point in Flensburg.

The KVR also sees parked sidewalks as a problem.

Violations would be consistently punished within the framework of the available resources, said a spokeswoman for the authorities on request.

In the first half of 2022, a total of 8,300 warnings were issued for sidewalk parking.

There are often focal points in construction site areas.

The new head of the KVR, Hanna Sammüller-Gradl (Greens), appealed to drivers to be reasonable: “It also poses a great risk for children if they have to meander through parked cars on the way to school and then are not seen in the moving traffic ." The KVR is grateful for any information from citizens, "so that the traffic controllers can also carry out special operations if necessary".

Munich: 55,000 parking violations in 2021

The municipal traffic control of the city controls in 56 of the 69 parking license areas.

The police headquarters in Munich is responsible for the rest of the city.

In 2021 alone, law enforcement officers punished 55,000 violations, cumulatively in the area of ​​pedestrian and cycle path parking.

According to the police, a total of 784,000 traffic offenses were reported last year.

In addition, 9,300 vehicles were towed away.

The police say they are trying to “stretch a balance between the large number of tasks and the available staff”.

The traffic situation is monitored in this area of ​​tension.

Combating accident black spots and monitoring areas with increased risk potential for road users have priority.

If there are problems with illegal parking at certain locations in this regard, the police will react.

However, a comprehensive intensification of the monitoring measures with the aim of keeping footpaths and cycle paths free is not feasible.