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Resident parking in Koblenz: Using space more effectively
Photo: Thomas Frey / dpa
A new formula for calculating the costs of resident parking will soon come into effect in Koblenz: more money will be charged for larger cars than for small ones. The area actually used should be decisive for the amount of the fee.
While the drivers' lobby ADAC had previously expressed skepticism about higher parking fees for certain vehicles, the local branch of the General German Automobile Club on the Middle Rhine has now shown understanding for the city of Koblenz's move.
Parking space has become a scarce commodity, especially in cities, said Christian Schmidt, head of mobility and environment at ADAC Mittelrhein. "That's why we can understand that municipalities take the value of the parking space into account when setting parking fees in order to be able to use the parking space more effectively," he said. If the parking areas are not marked, as is usually the case in cities, a distinction based on area seems generally suitable and better than the weight criterion.
The ADAC had previously criticized that higher parking fees for vehicles weighing over 1.6 tons "could not be a solution." According to this definition, “the owner of a VW Caddy, Seat Leon or Toyota C-HR would also be asked to pay,” said a spokeswoman recently.
Length and width are important
The association also complained that the question of the amount of parking fees had been scandalized by activists such as German Environmental Aid. Terms like “monster SUV” and “danger” are inappropriate.
However, the buzz word SUV is hardly an issue in Koblenz. In the Rhineland-Palatinate city, the fees for resident parking permits will be recalculated from March 1st. The aim is, on the one hand, to use the opportunity to set the parking fees yourself, which was previously a federal matter. On the other hand, a discrepancy between the fees for public parking spaces and those for residents' parking permits should be compensated for, said a spokesman.
“The linear measurement is more appropriate and easier to understand than significant price jumps between vehicle size classes,” said ADAC representative Schmidt. The maximum amount of parking fees should be proportionate and take into account that a resident parking permit does not guarantee a parking space.
Specifically, the fee in Koblenz will in future be calculated from a basic annual amount of 23.40 euros (0.45 euros for 52 weeks). This basic amount is multiplied by the respective length and width of the vehicle in meters. The values entered in the vehicle registration document are decisive for this. Additions to vehicles such as spoilers, bicycle racks and exterior mirrors are not taken into account.
For example, resident parking for a Smart fortwo will cost 104.87 euros for one year in the future. For a VW Tiguan, on the other hand, the cost is 196.23 euros per year.
In principle, the Koblenz city administration has set a minimum fee of 100 euros. It is possible because the Bundestag and Bundesrat have overturned a nationwide cap of 30.70 euros that would apply until 2020. Resident parking permits in Koblenz currently cost 30.70 euros. There were recently around 6,000 resident parking permits in the city.
The ADAC is currently not aware of any other cities in Rhineland-Palatinate that are planning to stagger fees like in Koblenz. “But I assume that this is only a matter of time,” said Schmidt.
apr/dpa