A written piece of paper on the windshield in Försterstrasse in Neuehrenfeld documents Cologne’s struggle for parking spaces, especially for mobile homes and camper vans. On August 18, the piece of paper behind clear film on a “Bulli” read: “This is not a parking space for mobile homes, but a public parking lot for people who live here.” Apparently the owner wrote underneath: “The car has been here since Sunday. You are welcome to come by for a coffee. We live directly across the street.” Behind it is a smiley face.
Where mobile homes park is a question that is becoming more pressing in Cologne. According to the city, the number of mobile homes increased by almost 65 percent from 2019 to August 2024 – from 5,742 to 9,449. The corona pandemic is considered to be the driver of this development. A total of 585,100 motor vehicles were registered in Cologne at the end of 2023. So is the author of the complaint on the windshield right? Or is he wrong to get upset?
A note on a “Bulli” in Cologne.
John Bexkens, Vice President of the Motorhome Union, says about the parking of motorhomes in big cities: “Of course this is critical and leads to discontent among the population.” Bexkens lives in Troisdorf and says: “It is a problem. But what can we do about it?” The Motorhome Union says it is committed to the rights of motorhome users.
The city of Cologne also ruled: “Mobile homes are generally used for leisure activities and not to ensure basic mobility. Particularly because of the size of such vehicles, long-term parking within the confined urban core area should be avoided. This largely reduces constrictions in traffic space and visual obstructions, which impair road safety, as well as damage to parking spaces caused by excessive weight loads.” Camper vans and vans are counted as mobile homes if they are registered as special vehicles.
Road traffic regulations allow
From a purely legal perspective, however, parking mobile homes is permitted, as stated in the road traffic regulations. The Cologne administration points this out. “The legislature does not impose any special restrictions on parking mobile homes in public parking areas.”
The situation is different for caravans, which are only allowed to remain parked without a towing vehicle for two weeks. But there is also a caravan on a Neuehrenfelder Straße near Försterstraße, and the vegetation on it suggests that it has been parked for more than two weeks. According to Bexken, in the Netherlands, parking in public spaces is only allowed for two days.
Proposal of the Ehrenfeld CDU rejected
The issue has also reached Cologne politics, and the Ehrenfeld district council has been dealing with it this year (we reported). The CDU has drafted a motion on the matter, which states: “Parking caravans and mobile homes when they are not being used is a problem in public streets. Particularly in residential areas, long-term parking of mobile homes or parking caravans in a car parking space is seen as a nuisance.”
According to the CDU, there are empty halls in industrial areas in Ehrenfeld and it must be possible to manage this better. The CDU suggested that the city of Cologne Business should find providers of such halls. Ultimately, however, the district council rejected the proposal by a majority.
Motorhome fire slows down line 13
In particular, the elevated railway line 13 on the Parkgürtel has now become a popular parking spot for mobile homes and vans. In 2017, a mobile home burned out further north at the Neusser Straße/Gürtel stop and damaged the concrete of the elevated railway structure to such an extent that line 13 was only allowed to travel at 30 km/h for a while.
The administration does not want to designate parking spaces as car parking spaces only. This would only push the problem into other surrounding areas. “The city administration therefore does not see the mere restriction of designation to car parking spaces as a solution to the demands placed on public parking spaces. This is especially true as such signage would also exclude vans and tradesmen’s vehicles from use.”
New fee structure for residents
However, the size of cars will play a role in parking from October 1st. From this day on, the new fee structure for resident parking will apply: instead of 30 euros per year, applicants will then have to pay 100 euros.
However, the city is imposing restrictions from October. Unlike before, owners of cars that are longer than 5.60 meters will no longer receive a permit. The administration also argues that this is a matter of road safety. According to the administration, only 105 cars are affected citywide that are not listed as mobile homes, meaning that they are vans such as a VW Caddy.
ID card also available for motorhome owners
For comparison: Of the 9449 mobile homes, 590 are longer than 5.60 meters. That corresponds to around 6.2 percent. Contrary to recent reports, however, mobile home owners are allowed to apply for a resident parking permit. They receive one “if it is the only vehicle available to the household and the length does not exceed 5.60 meters.”
The new fee structure will apply from March 1, 2025 and the flat rate of 100 euros will end. Depending on the length of the car, the license will then cost 100, 110 and 120 euros per year, with a few exceptions.
