“I think I’m standing in a forest of signs”: That’s probably what Munich road users have increasingly thought in the recent past. Because the city has started to reforest the streets purely in terms of signs. A simple “P” for parking space is no longer enough. After all, it has been clear since time immemorial: Wherever it says “P,” there are cars on it.
But since word has gotten around that there are other means of transport than private cars and that everything has to be in order, other vehicles are now gradually being assigned their place on the side of the road via signage – the brave new world of pictograms makes it possible.
Many people, one shared car: This parking space is reserved for car sharing vehicles.
(Photo: Andreas Schubert)
Recently, you’ve seen more and more often on signs and – so that you notice it – as a marker on the road, a car cut in half, surrounded by people who are apparently supposed to represent a family: mommy, daddy, daughter and son. The sign means: Only car sharing vehicles, i.e. sharing cars, may be parked here. In the city’s opinion, the marking is apparently so self-explanatory that no further words are necessary. It’s clear: a cut car means sharing, whatever else.
There are currently around 300 such parking spaces in the city. All car sharing vehicles that are marked with either a blue round vignette with the inscription “Carsharing” or a rectangular vignette with a seal of the state capital Munich are allowed to park here. There is no maximum parking time. In 2024, some of these parking spaces will be rededicated exclusively for station-based car sharing. This will of course be made clear by additional signage.
The parking lot is for many different vehicles, and there is a symbol for each.
(Photo: Andreas Schubert)
1,600 car sharing spaces and parking spaces for micromobility are planned by 2026. They are part of so-called mobility points, of which there will be 200 in the next few years, according to the mobility department. Mobility points are places where people can borrow a means of transport. This also includes the ever-popular electric scooters (e-scooters), large scooters with electric drives, e-bikes and normal rental bikes. Each of these companions has its own symbol.
They usually appear in combination on a sign, because the emission-free vehicles are allowed to share the space, usually converted car parking spaces. This means they no longer have to be parked on the sidewalk, as is usually the case, where they are often an obstacle. In addition to around 60 dedicated parking spaces for micromobility, around 30 parking spaces at mobility point locations could be added by the end of this year, 2023.
All of this is made possible by an amendment to the road traffic regulations from April 28, 2020, in which the symbols were introduced as new traffic signs. This also includes the cargo bike, which is often purchased in areas close to the center as a supplement to the family VW bus and as an emission-free alternative to the motorized parent taxi. You can recognize it by the wheelbarrow-like tub in front of the handlebars. Normal bikes are tolerated on these parking spaces. The situation is different when it comes to vehicles with an insurance license plate, which also includes e-scooters: They get a ticket for illegal parking.
The city is increasingly creating space for motorcycles on the side of the road. In many places they stand on the sidewalk, which is generally not allowed, but is tolerated as long as there is at least one and a half meters of space on the sidewalk and there is no obstruction.
However, the municipal traffic control issues tickets when motorcycles are parked in disproportionately large numbers on the sidewalk or when citizens complain about damage to facades, the blocking of (shop) windows, noise or exhaust nuisance when starting, or even that Driving on the sidewalks. Parking motorcycles in a designated parking space is free, even in parking license areas. Anyone who parks their moped or motorcycle in a car parking space must buy a parking ticket or attach a resident’s license to the vehicle.
The entire diversity of the Schilderwald can be viewed online in German Traffic sign catalog at vzkat.de study, the new growths can also be found in part 7.