Protest in Rottweil: Wirt fights against new parking fees!

Protest in Rottweil: Wirt fights against new parking fees!

A new parking fee concept is causing a lot of excitement in Rottweil. Markus Hauffe, the landlord of the popular Irish pub “The Harp”, has mobilized on Facebook with a striking slogan “FCK Rottweil” and is calling on citizens to take action against the upcoming changes. Loud Black Forest messenger The new concept will come into force on September 15th and is primarily based on an adjustment of parking fees, which could also have a major impact on the city center economy.

The most important changes include the elimination of two hours of free parking, meaning that drivers will now have to pay 1 euro per hour, with a maximum parking time of four hours. Tickets are now required Monday to Sunday between 8am and 8pm. It is only possible to park for free for 30 minutes using the “Pretzel button” on certain streets, such as Waldtorstraße and Untere Hauptstraße. In parking garages, however, the first hour remains free before 1 euro per hour is also due. After 8 p.m., reduced night rates apply.

Protests from the economy

Hauffe's comments leave no doubt about how local restaurants and retailers view the new fees. He describes the changes as a “slap in the face” for restaurateurs and fears that fewer customers will flow into the city center. Many retailers are also concerned that the new fees could put further strain on their businesses. “Inexpensive parking leads to an increase in frequency and a lively city center,” continued Hauffe.

After a lively discussion, the majority of the Rottweiler local council voted in favor of the new regulations. Mayor Dr. Christian Ruf emphasized that these changes were necessary to improve the parking situation and promote long-term parking in parking garages, while reducing traffic looking for parking in the city center. These decisions are in line with general trends in many cities, where high parking fees and the loss of parking spaces often lead to protests from the retail industry, such as Future mobility explained.

A stressful decision?

The meagerness of the previous fees prevented the profitable development of inner-city traffic, which frustrated many residents and retailers. Discussions about increasing fees for resident parking permits and the plan to extend the “pretzel button” to other streets were also brought into the discussions. However, various initiatives to expand free parking faced resistance and were ultimately rejected.

Local council members such as Daniel Karrais (FDP) and Ingeborg Gekle-Maier (Greens) sought more scope for free parking, but the original proposal prevailed. The financial impact of the “pretzel button” also left some councils struggling to explain. The increase in the resident parking permit to 120 euros was approved, which was met with considerable concerns in the political discussion.

The new regulations overlap with a fundamental trend in many cities, which are trying to make car traffic in city centers less attractive in order to improve economic conditions there. The challenges for retail and gastronomy could be discussed more strongly in the next few months as Rottweilers look forward to implementing the new parking concept.