Parking lot detectors and alternative destinations: a new attempt against the chaos of day-trippers

Created: 06/10/2022 15:06

First work for the project: Barbara Angerer (l.) is an employee of the green-solutions office, which is currently checking the cycle path signs in the district of Starnberg on behalf of Kathrin Hortmanns and gwt boss Christoph Winkelkötter.

© gwt

The business development and tourism company gwt has started a new project on visitor management and mobility.

The aim is to at least contain some of the chaos in summer in 2023.

District

– In order to reduce the chaos caused by day-trippers, especially in summer, the Society for Economic and Tourism Development (gwt) has started a new project on visitor management and mobility.

Kathrin Hortmanns, who has been regional manager at gwt alongside Daniela Tewes and project manager since May 2022, wants to make two adjustments: persuade more people to use bicycles or public transport and publicize alternative excursion destinations so that not everyone meets at overcrowded hotspots.

For the implementation of these goals, there will be 50 percent financing of the personnel and project costs for three years from the State Ministry for Economic Affairs, Regional Development and Energy, the gwt announced.

Kathrin Hortmanns has now started with the first concrete measures.

"In order for people to actually cycle more, what is needed above all is a good infrastructure and attractive conditions, because it really gets on your nerves when the paths are difficult to drive on or not well signposted," she emphasizes.

The outdoor agency green-solutions from Murnau, which specializes in bicycle infrastructure, is currently checking the network of cycle paths in the district and the most important routes in the neighboring communities, and documenting any deficiencies.

During the review, the regional management works closely with the district office.

At the end of October, the approximately 1000 kilometers should be completed, after which a signage concept will be drawn up.

The goal for the 2023 summer season: a cycle path network with complete signage.

In further steps, bicycle maps are to be created that provide information about excursion destinations and

Technology helps - when parking spaces are converted

One component is digital visitor guidance.

Parking spaces are to be technically upgraded so that they deliver free spaces directly to the smartphone.

If a parking lot is full, day trippers can head for alternative destinations or choose alternative means of transport to get there - at least that's the plan.

According to gwt, the past two summers have made the traffic problem even more urgent due to Corona and "holidays at home".

In the summer of 2020, the mood among the locals threatened to change when Munich residents stormed the lakes in droves.

Christoph Winkelkötter, managing director of gwt, thinks there is no place for mood-mongering like elsewhere: “Many people who live here commute to work in the city every day or use the gastronomic and cultural offerings there.

And those who live in the city like to come to us to relax, you can’t play that off against each other.”