Design of economic zones
The parking spaces in the 23-meter-long “economic zone” (at Venloer Strasse 259) are signposted and marked to a uniform standard. They are clearly marked with an absolute no-stopping sign with additional signage. In addition, appropriate colored markings and pictograms are used on the floor. According to the signage and markings, the parking spaces are reserved for commercial and craft businesses, delivery traffic, parcel delivery services and care services. The reservation of the parking spaces in the economic zone at the pilot location Venloer Strasse is valid around the clock on working days (Monday to Saturday). On Sundays and public holidays, the parking spaces in the economic zone are available to everyone free of charge. The periods of validity of the economic zone will vary at the other locations to be implemented depending on local requirements.
Advantages of the economic zone
The aim of implementing the economic zones is to offer commercial traffic more reserved stopping and parking options in public traffic areas. The economic zone is to be set up where high parking pressure means that a lot of time is spent looking for a parking space. This is intended to counteract the declining willingness to accept customer orders in certain neighborhoods or road sections due to a lack of parking spaces. With the selected signage and clear markings, those involved in the project expect that the zones will be kept free for the group of authorized people and that the loading and delivery situation on site will improve. Last but not least, the economic zone is intended to increase road safety, especially for pedestrians and cyclists, as it prevents the often obstructive stopping and parking in double rows or in stopping and parking bans.
background
The idea for the conception of the economic zones arose from feedback from trades and care services, who increasingly no longer want to drive to addresses due to a lack of parking options. In addition, in March 2023 the city council sent an order to the administration to examine the extent to which the search for parking spaces for trades, care and delivery services can be improved.
In April 2023, the administration held a kick-off meeting with the Chamber of Crafts and Trades and the Public Order Office of the City of Bonn. The Cologne and Bonn administrations developed initial proposals for signage that complies with the Road Traffic Act, the design of the pictograms and the group of authorized persons. This was followed by coordination with the Cologne district government. Venloer Strasse was selected as the first pilot location for Cologne.
Venloer Straße as the first pilot location
The choice of location for a first economic zone on Venloer Strasse, where the second stage of the traffic trial with the one-way street regulation between Gürtel and Piusstrasse is currently underway, was not a coincidence. During the consultation with the Cologne Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Chamber of Crafts and local business people, it emerged that many suppliers on Venloer Strasse park in the second row because the loading zones are often blocked. In a joint Workshop With the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, Chamber of Crafts and tradespeople in March 2024, the economic zone was intensively discussed and advocated as an opportunity to optimize the loading and delivery situation.
The administration on Venloer Strasse therefore expects the economic zone now being implemented at number 259 to improve parking options for tradespeople, care workers and delivery services, and to increase road safety for pedestrians and cyclists, who currently often have to swerve into oncoming traffic due to people parking in the second row. As part of the extensive participation process for the traffic trial, the City of Cologne will be surveying business owners on Venloer Strasse in the coming weeks in cooperation with the Chamber of Industry and Commerce and the Chamber of Crafts and Trades about their initial experiences with the economic zone.
outlook
The administration plans to have the responsible district councils decide on further pilot locations this year.
As part of the pilot project, the city of Cologne is monitoring the use of the economic zone and evaluating the results. If the response is positive, the number of locations in the city area is planned to be expanded.
Following the Bundestag, the Bundesrat also passed the amendment to the StVO on July 5, 2024. In the future, a uniform traffic sign for so-called “loading areas” is to be introduced. These are to be separate parking areas for loading and unloading. After the new StVO comes into force, it will be examined whether the new “loading area” traffic sign can be used in the future as part of the city’s economic zone pilot project.
