Berlin’s traffic senator wants cyclists to park like this

Berlin – The battle for the roadside gap is getting harder. Bicycles, motorcycles, pedelecs and scooters can be parked in car spaces from January.

While the gap becomes more expensive for drivers (per zone then 2, 3 or 4 euros per hour), everyone else pays NOTHING.

Bikes & Co. park for free. “To encourage them to use these traffic areas,” said Senator for Transport Bettina Jarasch (54, Greens), who wants to free sidewalks from tripping hazards in this way.

Street fight by law?

“The fact that bicycles, cargo bikes or light motorcycles should be encouraged to be parked more in parking lots is not the subject of Tuesday’s Senate resolution,” ruled Franziska Giffey (44, SPD) contradicts the idea of ​​ousting Transport Senator Jarasch.

Giffey on to BILD.: “Basically, it’s about good protection for pedestrians and a distribution of the street area that takes all road users into account. However, the road traffic regulations apply to everyone. And that means: It has to be parked in a space-saving manner. Our claim must be: caution and mutual consideration instead of confrontation.”

This is exactly what the Senate does not do from the point of view of CDU traffic expert Oliver Friederici (52): “This is not together, but against each other. Both sides will feel challenged.”

This is also the assessment of Felix Reifschneider (44, FDP): “The Senate is increasing the conflict between the different types of transport. One gets the impression that the green transport senator is fueling conflicts in order to distract attention from her failures.”

What does the FDP politician mean specifically? Reifschneider: “Whether it’s about bicycle parking garages, cycle expressways, new subway and tram connections, underground and neighborhood garages or the expansion of efficient main roads – the Senate is lagging behind everywhere.”

Three questions for the Senator for Transport

BILD: You want to encourage cyclists not to park their bikes on the sidewalk but in a car parking space. Why do you risk roadside conflicts?

Jarasch: “Because there are conflicts on the sidewalks. The pedestrian association, the visually impaired and senior citizens keep pointing out to us that bicycles and scooters on sidewalks are a massive impediment and endangerment to them.”

Are shared car parking spaces new territory?

Jarasch: “In fact, it is applicable law throughout Germany that bicycles can also be parked as vehicles in parking lots – but not in a hindrance!”

However, it makes a difference whether you expressly ask cyclists to occupy parking spaces that are already scarce anyway!

Jarasch: “I don’t know how big the effect will be in practice. One thing is for sure: if you want to securely lock up your bike, you naturally take a seat on the hanger or in a container box.”