Regarding the article Parking on the Talavera will soon cost in the Main-Post of January 22, the editors received the following letter to the editor:
Regarding the mayor’s statement that Wrzburg needs professional football, I can only say: Wrzburg doesn’t necessarily need professional football. What Würzburg absolutely needs are inexpensive car parking spaces for people commuting to work and shopping in the surrounding area. With the City Council’s decision to operate Talavera Square beginning June 1, 2022, the need to provide timely and sufficient parking spaces for commuters has become a task for years to come. The lack of car parking spaces for commuters will have a lasting negative impact on the city’s economic development. The Greens with like-minded people are now obliged to tackle the eight (8) Park & Ride sites that were decided four years ago. This means: The Greens have to deliver now!
Even if I fundamentally welcome the decision to force commuters to take a critical look at whether it makes more sense, is ecologically necessary and economically justifiable not to use a private car to travel to Würzburg, I cannot agree with the price of the day ticket at nine euros to understand. Nine euros are absurdly too high and inappropriate!
For a commuter to Würzburg, this means an additional charge of around 200 euros/month or on an hourly basis, at 60 cents/hour around 150 euros/month. This price difference shows another absurdity of the city council decision. Shouldn’t the commuter stay in Würzburg after his working hours, for example to go shopping, visit restaurants, etc.?
Many commuters will not be able to afford the additional amount for a day parking ticket and will ask their employer for a subsidy or try to change jobs or end their professional activity prematurely. Costs and labor shortages will increase and the city’s economic power will decrease. The additional costs of commuting will be felt more and more by smaller, private companies and businesses and will have to go out of business.
As a result, the city loses its attractiveness. Truly a grand decision! I miss the city council’s political responsibility for the future well-being of the city. Everything is subordinated to climate protection.
In the present case, it would be more effective to start with a day ticket for the Talavera for three euros, maximum five euros, and to increase the parking fee by about 1.50 euros after about two years, for example.
Winfried Kuttenkeuler
97070 Wrzburg
–
