Bun button and short-term parking
FDP wants to make inner cities more car-friendly
05/07/2023 10:01 p.m
In recent years, cars have played an increasingly smaller role in the design of inner cities. The FDP now wants to change this – according to a draft resolution, the Liberals are planning to lure more people into the centers with their own cars. Above all, parking should be easier.
The FDP wants to open the inner cities more to drivers again. This is reported by the “Bild” newspaper, citing a draft resolution that the FDP Presidium is to vote on. According to the draft, a “car-hostile, ideological transport policy” is harmful and counterproductive in terms of climate policy.
Cities and municipalities should therefore allow free short-term parking. The paper proposes introducing the “bun button” on parking machines so that drivers can make short purchases, such as at the bakery. This button already existed in Bremen, but was abolished again in April by Transport Senator Maike Schaefer. “In view of the climate crisis, it is no longer responsible to encourage car trips for small purchases through free parking,” said the Green politician about her decision.
The Liberals, on the other hand, see the advantages of more flexible parking rules in the relief for regulatory agencies and the police in the event of minor violations. In addition, it makes inner cities more attractive again and offers more social participation. For this reason, short-term parking in the restricted no-stopping area should also be possible in the future for up to five minutes instead of the previous three minutes.
Liberals advocate Sunday trading
In addition, there should be more opportunities for retail to open on Sundays. “So that the business is not left to online trading, it should be checked what adjustments are necessary to enable more Sunday openings and thus more shopping experiences on Sundays as well,” quoted the “Bild” from the draft. However, shops should continue to decide for themselves whether they want to open on Sundays.
In addition, the FDP leadership wants to re-examine the controversial receipt obligation and, if necessary, abolish it again. Since the beginning of 2020, retailers and restaurant owners have had to give every customer a receipt. At the same time, electronic cash registers must be made counterfeit-proof. The Bundestag had already passed the corresponding law to protect against manipulation of basic digital recordings in 2016. The business lobby had already tried unsuccessfully to prevent the receipt obligation. The draft should therefore be approved by the FDP Presidium on Monday.