“Traffic jam capital”: who would want to wear this title? The city of Munich has it, but wants to get rid of it as soon as possible. The state capital has been dealing with the subject of the traffic transition for a long time: people should prefer to use bicycles or public transport instead of cars. There are many ideas for this. Some are already being implemented, others are more long-term.
A parking garage not just for cars
On March 1st, the “mobility hotspot” at Thomas-Wimmer-Ring went into operation: an underground car park that not only has space for cars, but also bicycles, electric charging stations and a packing station. E-bikes, e-scooters or bicycles should be able to be rented here via the app. The new underground car park is a building block on the way to the “car-reduced old town”. The city council had already voted in favor of this in a fundamental decision in 2019.
Pop-up cycle paths: turn yellow into white
When many people switched to bicycles during the first Corona lockdown in spring 2020, the city reacted and put yellow markings for temporary bike paths. These pop-up cycle paths were later dismantled – but are now coming back to stay: From April, white, permanent cycle path markings will be applied to some streets.
From the main artery to the boulevard
The Sonnenstraße along the old town is a constantly congested traffic route, on which the tram and many pedestrians are still on the move. A “boulevard” is to be created here. How exactly this should look is not yet clear – a competition is planned for this.
New routes for the subway and tram
Car-reduced old town, new bike paths and promenades: That sounds more like more traffic jams. But all the small measures are part of a big plan that is supposed to bring about the hoped-for turnaround in traffic. This also includes long-term measures: the construction of the second main line for the S-Bahn as well as further underground and tram lines. In addition to the ongoing plans for four new routes, the city plans to redesign another underground line and seven trams.
New department for mobility
All of these ideas and plans come together in a new department: the city’s newly established mobility department started work at the beginning of 2021. The goals are ambitious: By 2025, 80 percent of city traffic should consist of pedestrians, cyclists, public transport and electromobility, said Mayor Katrin Habenschaden (Greens) at the presentation of the new section: “This is necessary to prevent the forecast traffic collapse in Munich and to achieve our urban climate protection goals. “
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