“What will move us next” is written on a banner above the hermetically sealed Königsplatz. It was already clear on Sunday that the “mobility” that the makers of the International Motor Show (IAA), which began on Tuesday, will be more limited for the next seven days in downtown Munich. Fenced-in “Open Spaces”, blocked motorway exits, a “Blue Lane” reserved for special vehicles through the middle of the city, plus demonstrations, a bicycle tour, possible blockade actions, and so on. It is not easy to keep track of what is going and what is going on during the IAA and what is not. Especially since the police, district administration and mobility departments often refer to each other or to the organizers when asked.
Open space
That is a paraphrase for the fact that the IAA is spreading in the northern city center when it premieres in Munich. Several streets and squares are closed because companies are allowed to present their products and concepts there. The goal of a car-free city comes pretty close during the car exhibition, at least in the museum district. Königsplatz, Brienner Straße, Wittelsbacher Platz, Odeonsplatz and the beginning of Ludwigstraße are cordoned off with fences and privacy screens. Pedestrians are allowed in, even without a ticket. This also applies to the other “Open Spaces” such as Marstall-, Max-Joseph- and Marienplatz as well as the Residenzhöfe and the Hofgarten.
Blue lane
Two main arteries in Munich’s rush hour traffic are to serve as the IAA’s transfer and test route. This “blue lane” between the exhibition grounds and Königsplatz is to lead inwards via Passau autobahn, Prinzregenten-, Von-der-Tann-, Theresien- and Arcisstraße, out of town via Gabelsberger Straße, Altstadtring, Maximilianstraße and Einsteinstraße on the A94 for car traffic means is open. The police only want to intervene if Blue Lane is disturbed, parked or blocked, but not to distribute parking tickets. “We will have a look at it, but not proceed with the club,” promised Police Vice President Michael Dibowski.
Environmental lane
In the area between the Moosfeld junction and the Mittlerer Ring, the federal autobahn GmbH, the city, the Munich Trade Fair Center and the Bavarian Ministry of Transport are testing a yellow environmental lane on the “Blue Lane”. From Monday to Sunday “from around 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.”, shuttle and regular buses, taxis, vehicles with E-license plates and cars with at least three passengers are allowed to drive there. To do this, the entrance from Weltenburger Strasse into Töginger Strasse (end of the autobahn) must be blocked. In the area of the motorway, the special lane will run on the hard shoulder. During this time, the Zamdorf and Daglfing entrances will be closed.
Demonstrations
According to the Ministry of the Interior, 50 rallies have been registered for the IAA. Climate protectors, IAA opponents and left-wing autonomous groups have also announced disruptive actions for the entire duration of the car show. The alliance “sand in the gears” wants to close the access to the venues on Friday, September 10th, “with massive disobedience and blockades”. On Saturday, there will be massive obstacles to motorized car traffic due to a cycling tour with 14 routes through the city and a large demonstration with tens of thousands of participants. It remains to be seen whether this will affect the motorways from Lindau and Passau and the Mittlerer Ring on the last holiday weekend.