Questions and answers on the parking concept
In May 2025, the commissioned planning office PB Consult presented its final report on the parking space concept for the town centers of Bieber and Bürgel. This is based on a prior public participation process in which residents submitted comments on the topic of parking space both online and at an event.
Why was the parking space concept developed?
One of the central measures and objectives of the urban development program "Lebendige Zentren Bieber & Bürgel" is the creation of a parking space concept. This program was developed between 2017 and 2021 as part of a comprehensive participation process. The experiences and comments of local residents were actively incorporated and taken into account.
Why should the parking space be organized?
In various streets in Bieber and Bürgel, residents and visitors park their vehicles on the roadside despite insufficient road width. Parking in these areas is already illegal in some cases, even if it has rarely been punished to date. The aim is to organize parking better so that there is more space for pedestrians in future. Above all, however, the aim is to increase the safety of all road users, especially children, the elderly and people with walking disabilities, and to ensure accessibility for emergency and supply vehicles. It should be borne in mind that there are often no or only very narrow sidewalks in the old town centers and the road space can therefore not be reserved exclusively for cars. The changes also aim to make it more pleasant to spend time in the historic town centers and to make the townscape more attractive. This was one of the many wishes expressed during the public participation process.
What are the objectives of the concept?
The parking space concept for the Bieber and Bürgel districts focuses on several aspects:
- Strengthening pedestrian and bicycle traffic,
- Improving road safety,
- Improving the appearance of the historic centers,
- Improving the quality of life in both districts,
- more efficient use and structuring of existing parking spaces,
- Reduction of parking search traffic,
- Creating a fairer distribution of space in public areas,
- Promotion of alternative mobility options such as car sharing,
- long-term adaptation to changing mobility behavior.
What measures does the final report recommend for implementation?
The final report proposes a three-stage approach for implementation. These measures can be tackled in succession.
The aim is to find a compromise between the needs of residents for parking space and the desire for more attractive public spaces.
Proposed measures are:
1. introduction of parking space management:
More efficient use of existing parking space should help to reduce conflicts and improve the quality of life in the affected areas.
- Introduction of resident parking zones in residential areas,
- Establishment of short-term parking zones along shopping streets,
- Regulation of parking space use through signage or management.
2. targeted redesign of selected streets:
This final report does not aim to reduce the number of parking spaces in the entire district. This would not make sense due to the high demand for parking spaces and the lack of alternative spaces. Instead, the concept envisages a reorganization of certain streets and squares.
The aim is to take better account of the different needs of all road users. In order to achieve this, redesigns are necessary in some areas. Design ideas were developed in the concept. Different street types were selected as examples for both districts: streets with a very narrow cross-section in the historic town center with no or narrow sidewalks (Oberhofstraße and Bürgerstraße), somewhat wider streets with sidewalks in the Wilhelminian quarters (Phillip-Reis-Straße), the Bürgerplatz as well as commercial and through streets (Aschaffenburger Straße, Langstraße and Offenbacher Straße).
The streets contain typical features that need to be taken into account when redesigning them. Different options can also be identified. Initial test designs were created to illustrate the redesign options. These sketches show examples of what a redesign could look like. Various aspects were taken into account: How can traffic be sensibly directed and calmed? How can intersections be made safer? Where can driveways be best considered? What options are there for more greenery? How can the street space be enhanced with furniture such as benches or bicycle stands?
The designs show which changes could be implemented in practice and would be useful for improving the cityscape. They help to make the ideas in the final report tangible and to visualize possible solutions. They are not yet finished plans.
The focus is on the reorganization of parking spaces in Langstraße, Bürgerplatz and Bürgerstraße in Bürgel and Aschaffenburger Straße, Philipp-Reis-Straße and Oberhofstraße in Bieber.
The final report proposes Selected streets that are considered "focus streets" to be used as pilot projects. These streets are to be given more greenery and benches to improve the quality of stay. Associated with this are:
- Traffic calming:
- Establishing traffic-calmed business areas in the shopping streets of both districts,
- Creation of traffic-calmed areas in the other streets of the town center.
- Promotion of road safety and alternative mobility options:
- Improvement of pedestrian infrastructure,
- Installation of bicycle parking facilities,
- Expansion of car sharing services,
- Examining the expansion of bike sharing services.
- Improving sustainability and the cityscape:
- Creation of tree locations and green beds/islands,
- Use of infiltration-compatible surfaces for parking spaces
3. long-term gradual redesign of further streets:
- Gradual redesign of further streets along the lines of the pilot projects,
- (continued) examination of possibilities for acquiring space for neighborhood garages.
These measures are to be implemented step by step in order to bring about a lasting change in the parking space situation and to reach the public space in Bieber and Bürgel.
What ideas does the final report contain for Langstrasse?
It proposes converting Langstrasse into a traffic-calmed area. This could be achieved by
- traffic calming:
- Reducing the permitted speed to 20 kilometers per hour.
- a reorganization of parking:
- Establishment of angled, marked parking bays,
- Temporarily restricting the use of parking spaces during business hours for customer traffic,
- Reduction of side parking,
- Slight overall reduction in side parking in favor of other uses,
- Compensation for lost parking spaces by creating a car-sharing scheme.
- A pedestrian-friendly design:
- Widening of areas for pedestrian traffic,
- Improving safety when crossing the road through better visibility,
- improving the quality of stay and the cityscape:
- Creation of places to linger, installation of seating,
- increasing the attractiveness through greening.
- Parking facilities for bicycle traffic:
- Provision of sufficient bicycle parking spaces.
Conclusion: Langstrasse could be transformed into an attractive, lively axis in the commercial center of Bürgel. In doing so, the city wants to utilize the design potential gained through the construction of the Mainzer Ring.
The proposed changes aim to revitalize the street. The plan envisages transforming the space, which is currently dominated by parked cars, into an attractive place. In future, the street should invite people to linger and at the same time function as a lively business area. Good accessibility for customers remains an important aspect. The aim is to create a balanced design that makes it a pleasant place to stay and shop.
What ideas does the final report contain for the Bürgerplatz?
- Traffic calming:
- Recommendation to introduce walking speed for greater safety.
- Reduction of parking space:
- Conversion of parking spaces into attractive public areas,
- Repositioning of the remaining parking spaces at the edge of the square.
- Quality of stay and cityscape:
- Holistic redesign of surrounding streets and square area (in the ongoing process),
- Creation of more multifunctional usable space,
- Redesign into a lively meeting place for the community, an attractive place to relax and meet.
- Development into a mobility station:
- Examine Dalles as a potential location for a mobility station,
- Design integration into the square and upgrading of the bus stop,
- Possible expansion of the mobility offer with a car and bike sharing service.
Conclusion: A balance should be found between parking spaces and liveable urban spaces.
There are already initial sketches of ideas for the redesign of the square. These ideas can be incorporated into the further planning stages. This final report mainly looks at the roads and traffic routes around the square. It does not make any detailed proposals for the design of the square itself. Instead, it sets out two basic objectives: firstly, it suggests reducing the number of parking spaces. Secondly, the square is to be given new functions that will make it more attractive. The exact planning of how the square can be redesigned will take place in a separate process following the concept.
What ideas does the final report contain for Bürgerstrasse?
Bürgerstraße could become a traffic-calmed area. This is to be achieved by
- Traffic calming:
- Reducing the permitted speed to walking speed,
- Design as a "non-genuine one-way street" by prohibiting entry from one side,
- Ensuring the necessary residual lane width of at least 3.05 meters.
- Reorganization of parking:
- Construction of marked parking spaces,
- The number of parking spaces could correspond to the existing supply, at most a slight reduction is required.
- Pedestrian-friendly design:
- The street could be redesigned so that pedestrians can use the width of the street safely. The aim is for all road users to share the space equally ("shared space").
- Street design:
- The street could be designed uniformly, without height differences between the roadway and sidewalk. This means that the entire width of the road is at one level. The parking spaces should have surfaces that allow rainwater to seep through.
- Quality of stay and cityscape:
- Proposal to green the western and eastern ends of the street,
- Creation of recreational and seating areas.
Conclusion: Bürgerstraße should serve as a positive example for other town center streets.
The street should be redesigned as a priority because it represents an important connection. It connects the Bürgerplatz in the town center with the banks of the Main. The redesign should emphasize this connecting function even more and make it more visible. Despite the narrow cross-section of the street, the conceptual sketch aims to create a more equitable division of space and improve the quality of life without significantly reducing the amount of parking space. The design aims to make better use of the limited space in the narrow street. The aim is to use the space more fairly and make the street more inviting. At the same time, the number of parking spaces is to be largely retained.
What ideas does the final report contain for Aschaffenburger Strasse?
Aschaffenburger Strasse could become a traffic-calmed business area. This could be achieved by
- Traffic calming:
- Reducing the permitted speed to 20 kilometers per hour,
- no other restrictions on bus traffic.
- Reorganization of parking:
- Marked parking spaces in an irregular arrangement,
- Reduction of continuous, lengthwise parking spaces,
- Temporary restriction of parking during the day to give priority to customer traffic (e.g. with parking disks).
- Pedestrian-friendly design:
- Widening of footpaths,
- Keeping junctions and crossing areas clear in accordance with road traffic regulations,
- more safe road crossings for pedestrians.
- Improving the quality of life and cityscape:
- Converting some parking spaces into green areas with trees and plants, for example,
- Creation of seating facilities,
- Enabling outdoor gastronomy.
- Improving the cycling infrastructure:
- Provision of sufficient bicycle parking facilities
Conclusion: Aschaffenburger Straße could be transformed into a lively, attractive street for all road users.
Accessibility for customer traffic should be guaranteed, while at the same time creating more space for pedestrians, cyclists and places to spend time.
What ideas does the final report contain for Philipp-Reis-Straße?
It is proposed that the existing traffic routing (one-way street to Salzburger Straße) be retained. It is also proposed to
- Reorganization of parking:
- Predominantly alternating arrangement of parking spaces,
- Reduction of parking spaces from around 20 to around 15,
- Introduction of an "alternating principle" for the use of parking spaces: during the day they are available to everyone for a fee or with a parking disk, at night only residents with a parking permit.
- Pedestrian-friendly design and traffic safety:
- Clear visibility at property access points through targeted placement of flower beds and bicycle stands.
- Quality of stay and cityscape:
- Redesigning some areas into green areas with places to spend time,
- Improvement of the surface quality,
- Creation of tree locations to reduce heat,
- Integration of green beds.
- Bicycle traffic:
- Installation of bicycle racks to improve parking facilities.
Conclusion: Philipp-Reis-Straße is an important axis between Aschaffenburger Straße and Bieber railroad station, and this should be emphasized.
The final report aims to upgrade Philipp-Reis-Straße and strengthen its importance as a connecting route. The aim is to create a balance between parking facilities, traffic safety and quality of life. The planned changes should make the street more attractive for all road users and at the same time encourage the use of public transport.
What ideas does the final report contain for Oberhofstrasse?
The road could be converted into a traffic-calmed area. The following is proposed:
- Traffic calming:
- Reduction of the permitted speed to walking speed,
- opening in one direction only.
- Reorganization of parking:
- Marking of parking spaces,
- Parking spaces exclusively for residents (resident parking permit required).
- Pedestrian-friendly design and road safety:
- Equal use of the entire road width by all road users / improvement of the situation for pedestrians ("shared space"),
- Parking spaces are to be restructured to improve visibility at junctions.
- Street design:
- The street could be designed uniformly, without height differences between the roadway and sidewalk. This means that the entire width of the road is at one level.
- The parking spaces should have surfaces that allow rainwater to seep through.
- Quality of stay and cityscape:
- Establish green beds at the property boundaries, for example as a joint neighborhood project,
- Examine the possibilities for facade greening.
Conclusion: An attractive axis could be created between the town center and Aschaffenburger Strasse.
The final report aims to transform Oberhofstrasse from a street dominated by stationary traffic into a traffic-calmed area with a higher quality of life and improved road safety. The aim is to create an area where people can enjoy spending time and move around safely. The aim is to take into account the parking needs of local residents and to create an inviting public space. The aim is to calm traffic and make the street more attractive for everyone.
Oberhofstrasse could then serve as an example for other town center streets and show how the situation can be improved for all road users and a more attractive townscape can be achieved even in narrow streets.
Would the implementation of the measures recommended in the final report jeopardize the retail trade?
For many people, the car is an important part of their daily transportation. This is why the concept specifically provides for customer parking spaces near stores. The advantage of this is that existing parking spaces are not permanently occupied by long-term parkers, making it easier for more customers to access local stores.
However, the car is not the only way to get around. Customers can also reach stores and restaurants by bus, bicycle or on foot. Numerous studies show that a holistic view of all modes of transportation can contribute to the revitalization of shopping streets.
Will roadside parking charges soon be levied everywhere in Bieber and Bürgel?
Space is limited in the town centers of Bieber and Bürgel. This space should be used fairly - by residents, professionals and visitors alike. Various options are being considered to achieve this. One option is to limit the duration of parking, another is to introduce parking charges in certain areas with retail and business or resident parking districts. These measures can help to distribute the available space more fairly. The aim is to make balanced use of public space so that it benefits all road users.
What options are there to reduce parking pressure in the town centers?
The pros and cons of neighborhood garages were discussed with citizens as part of the public participation in this parking concept, but also in the participations in the Bürgel district development concept, the integrated urban development concept "Mitte machen Bieber Bürgel" and the traffic development plan.
In addition to questions of acceptance due to the specific spatial location, the experts in the final report came to the following conclusions:
There are currently no suitable areas for larger neighborhood garages in the surveyed areas of Bieber and Bürgel.
Several proposals were examined from a traffic law perspective. However, they were assessed as unsuitable. For example, the reasons why the proposed neighborhood garage in Bürgel (south of Bürgerplatz) was unsuitable were as follows:
- Too small an area (only space for around 20 to 30 vehicles) and therefore unlikely to provide an economically viable operating concept,
- high costs for land acquisition, demolition and new construction.
- problematic access road (very narrow and difficult to see).
- The final report recommends promoting the expansion of sharing services, cycling and further improvements to public transport connections.
- The final report recommends continuing to look for areas for neighborhood garages. This will always provide options in the long term. In Bieber, it is suggested that the area around the train station in particular be examined for possible P&R parking lot expansions.
To what extent does the final report serve as a template for concrete implementation?
The final report now available has the character of a recommendation for action. On this basis, a decision must now be made as to whether and which proposals should be implemented or revised in the short, medium and long term. The parking concept will then be adopted by the city council.
This approved parking concept is then a strategic planning instrument for our city. It serves as a basis for future decisions and measures in the area of parking management. The parking concept thus forms the basis for a structured and target-oriented further development of parking space in the city districts. However, the individual measures from the concept still have to be planned in concrete terms - so that it is still possible to influence the actual implementation.
How binding are the proposals in the final report?
The final report has the character of a recommendation for action. It provides suggestions and ideas on how the parking situation in Bieber and Bürgel could be improved.
The proposed measures are not binding. They are conceptual considerations intended to serve as a basis for future planning and decisions.
In the report, the proposals are often referred to as "recommendations". This underlines the advisory nature of the concept.
The sketches of ideas presented explicitly state that they are not detailed design plans. These visualizations help to better imagine the possible changes.
It is emphasized that further aspects that were not dealt with in detail in the concept (e.g. street lighting, choice of materials, accessibility) will have to be taken into account during actual implementation.
The concept envisages gradual implementation, which means that adjustments and reviews are possible and likely over time.
How have citizens been involved in the creation of a parking space concept so far?
The City of Offenbach incorporated the knowledge and experience of local people into the planning process from the very beginning. There were already various opportunities for participation during the creation of the urban development concept, such as tours, workshops, online events and plenary sessions. Traffic problems in the town centers were discussed on several occasions and suggestions for improvement were collected.
In order to process all this information properly, the city commissioned experts to develop a parking concept. Here, too, citizens were able to participate in two ways.
On April 23, 2024, a citizens' meeting on the topic was held at the district office in Bieber. Invitations were sent out via the municipal newsletter, the Offenbach-Post, the mailing list of the local partnership, the newsletter of the local partnership's public relations working group and via notices posted by the core area management in both districts.
At the event, the project objectives and the results of the parking space analysis were presented by PB Consult. In the interactive part that followed, participants were able to make their comments and remarks on plans and boards. They were specifically asked about shortcomings / criticism of the concept development procedure, ideas / wishes for supplementary treatment and other, above all specific traffic-related comments.
An online participation process ran in parallel from April 23 to May 10, 2024, focusing on the traffic situation in the two town centers. Citizens placed markers on an interactive map to locate parking offenders, increased parking pressure and potential areas - for example for greenery and a neighborhood garage.
Participants were also able to enter suggestions and general comments.
There were 450 comments in total.
The results of the public participation were taken into account in the concept:
- The participants largely confirmed the findings from the parking space analysis.
- Many of the people's suggestions and wishes were incorporated into the recommendations for action, for example redesign measures, traffic calming, greening and unsealing.
The concept attempts to find a compromise between the different, sometimes conflicting needs (parking space versus quality of stay).
Will there be further public participation before the individual construction measures are implemented?
Yes, each individual measure requires detailed planning, the so-called "object planning", which, in addition to the comprehensive basic determination (including the exact location of cables, house accesses, downpipes, heights), naturally also includes the consultation of suggestions from residents and any special user groups (for example, children if the route is important as a school route).
Participation will be encouraged in due course via the city's website, the core area management and the local partnership. The project planning will begin with the basic evaluation after the parking space concept has been approved. The city is not yet able to state a specific start date for the road alterations.