New loading zones and short-term parking spaces are being set up at Wilhelmsplatz
14.10.2022
Together with the surrounding businesses and market vendors, Mayor Sabine Groß has developed a concept for the implementation of loading zones and short-term parking spaces. In connection with the traffic calming measures on Wilhelmsplatz by closing the side streets, the tradespeople and market vendors had called for the establishment of new loading zones. As Paul-Gerhard Weiß, Head of Building and Planning, had already announced, the retractable bollards are to be installed this year: "The order has been placed, and if the delivery times are not extended any further, we expect to be able to install them in November and the power supply will be established." However, the bollards will only be put into operation once all the details for access authorization have been settled, says Weiß: "It is important that all those who are entitled to an exemption permit to enter the side streets have also received this. This applies in particular to local residents and delivery traffic as well as market vendors. Understandably, this new access procedure still has to settle in at the beginning."
The new loading zones at Wilhelmsplatz and the adapted parking spaces for short-term parkers in Bieberer Straße will also be opened when the bollards go into operation. Mayor and Head of Mobility Sabine Groß emphasizes: "I met with representatives of the weekly market, the retail trade and the Offenbach Chamber of Commerce and Industry on site and together we worked out where it will be possible to park for a short time for shopping or to load larger quantities of shopping into the car in the future."
Existing loading zones remain
It was agreed that the existing loading zones on Bieberer Straße (on the south side just before the Rosenapotheke and on the north side between the locksmiths and the Indian restaurant) would remain in place. The loading zones can be recognized by the signs for restricted stopping. Only short stops - not parking - are permitted there for the immediate loading and unloading of the vehicle. In addition, the parking time of the short-term parking spaces on Bieberer Straße between Salzgässchen and the start of the existing loading zone at the level of the locksmith (Bieberer Straße 22) is to be reduced from 40 to 30 minutes. In this way, the short-term parking spaces for short shopping trips will be freed up more quickly for others. In addition, three parking spaces in the Wilhelmsplatz parking lot are to be set up as a "loading zone" - in this case as a temporary restricted stopping ban. Stopping there is also only permitted for quick loading and unloading. "At this point, we have refrained from adding another parking regulation to the already quite differentiated parking regulations so that it remains clear for users," explains Groß.
With the establishment of the loading zone on Wilhelmsplatz, it will also be examined how the bicycle racks currently provided in the parking lot can be successively relocated to the side streets and the current parking spaces can be made available as parking spaces again. "This would create a double benefit: in the Wilhelmsplatz parking lot, the six parking spaces currently reserved for bicycles would once again be available for cars, and in the spaces freed up on the side streets, we would enable bicycles to be parked without the risk of access to the bicycle parking spaces being blocked by cars," says Groß. She points out that the concept for Wilhelmsplatz also includes raising the awareness of delivery traffic and cyclists to comply with the prescribed walking speed in the traffic-calmed area. "The areas of the side streets that will be closed in the future will also become pedestrian zones, in which walking speed will of course also apply after appropriate clearance for cyclists," emphasizes Groß. Parking is also prohibited in pedestrian zones. From a legal and practical point of view, speed checks are difficult for the public order office to implement here: "However, it has been agreed that there will also be direct approaches in the event of obvious violations," says Head of Public Order Weiß.
Since June 1, 2022, the side streets of Wilhelmsplatz may only be used in exceptional cases. Corresponding signage indicates that only cyclists and commercial delivery traffic, including market vendors, are exempt from the closure. Residents and care services may also use the side streets, but must apply for a special permit from the public order office. However, due to a lack of structural separation, this regulation is often ignored by through traffic and the public order office is unable to carry out permanent checks. The parking spaces in the side streets are currently still available to the general public on weekly market days until 11 a.m., otherwise only to those authorized to enter (e.g. residents with a special permit).With the establishment and opening of the new loading zones, the adapted short-term parking spaces and the structural traffic calming through the bollards, the temporary regulation according to which visitors are still allowed to enter the side streets on market days (Tuesdays, Fridays and Saturdays) from 6 a.m. to 11 a.m. to enable the direct loading of larger purchases will also cease to apply.
In preparation for the permanent structural traffic calming, the city is currently preparing an overview plan showing how to get to the parking and stopping options around Wilhelmsplatz. Once completed, the plan will be published online on the city's website and will then also be available as a flyer at the market, from local businesses and restaurants.