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Bavaria angry: Sidewalk parking in cities - pedestrians are left behind!
In Heidelberg, parking on sidewalks is only tolerated to a limited extent, which sometimes leads to criticism from environmental associations.
Bavaria angry: Sidewalk parking in cities - pedestrians are left behind!
More and more citizens in Baden-Württemberg are annoyed: In many cities, parking on sidewalks is tolerated, even though it is not legally acceptable. The German Environmental Aid (DUH) draws attention to the fact that parking on sidewalks is not only illegal, but also represents a massive hindrance to pedestrians. This practice is a real obstacle, especially for people with wheelchairs or strollers. According to the DUH, there are only 33 of 105 cities surveyed nationwide that clearly state that they generally do not tolerate sidewalk parking.
A look at the current conditions in the cities shows that only Reutlingen in Baden-Württemberg follows the clear line and does not tolerate sidewalk parking. The situation is particularly problematic in Pforzheim: with a remaining sidewalk width of only 1.40 meters, the city is one of the worst performers, whereas cities like Freiburg, Mannheim and Ulm tolerate parking on sidewalks, but must leave at least 1.50 meters of space. In Karlsruhe, a width of 1.60 meters is required, which creates at least a little more space for pedestrians. Nevertheless, it remains unclear how cities like Heidelberg decide when sidewalk parking hinders pedestrians.
Criticism of the cities is growing
The practices of many cities are unacceptable for the DUH, especially since they ignore the recommendation of the Research Society for Roads and Transport, which recommends sidewalks that are at least 2.50 meters wide. The decree in Baden-Württemberg, which confirms the blanket toleration of illegal sidewalk parking as unlawful, remains largely unnoticed. The DUH's criticism is also directed against the “duty discretion” in Stuttgart, which does not adequately solve this problem. The organization calls for consistent punishment for those parked on sidewalks and for the vehicles to be towed away to eliminate the obstruction.
Across Germany it is clear that protecting pedestrians is an important issue. The road traffic regulations generally prohibit parking on sidewalks, with the exception of special traffic signs or markings. It is unfortunate that so many cities do not pay sufficient attention to this important aspect of traffic safety.
Entertainment for every occasion
For everyone who longs for an evening break and at the same time wants to clarify prejudices against sidewalk parkers and their problems, the evening with a good series or a great film offers a welcome distraction from the transport policy challenges of our time.