The Greens from Sendling-Westpark are planning a “Parking Day” for this Saturday, May 13th, to draw attention to what they believe to be the excessive use of public space by motor vehicles. Two parking spaces are to be “colorfully furnished” at Partnachplatz from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. An “island in the sea of tin” will be created from potted plants, a seating area and a carpet, the Greens from the south-west of Munich announce. An information stand is also planned. The motto of the campaign, which is based on a concept of the Verein Verkehrsclub Deutschland (VCD): “Living space instead of parking spaces”.
“We want to raise awareness of how much space we are giving motor vehicles almost free of charge,” said Johannes Reichel from the Greens district association in Munich on the upcoming “Parking Day”. A single parking space is as big as an average child’s room. The extent to which public spaces are used by motor vehicles can be observed every day, not least in Sendling. This would also create “permanent sources of danger”, especially for children and older people. At the same time, most of the parking spaces in parking garages are empty most of the time.
The problem is exacerbated by the fact that parking in Munich is far too cheap and fines for parking violations are far too low. To remedy the malaise, more car sharing and greater “bike and foot mobility” are needed, according to Reichel. Maria Hemmerlein (Greens) from the Sendling-Westpark district committee also points out that unsealing is becoming increasingly important in times of climate change. In this context, parking spaces must be considered because they represent “first-class heat islands”.