Overview

• The Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) has officially proposed a nationwide minimum parking fee of €3 per hour in city centers to match public transit fares.
• The organization demands the elimination of free parking allowances, including the widely used 'Brötchentaste,' which offers free short-term parking in many cities.
• A DUH survey of 105 cities found that parking fees in over 60 municipalities are €1 or less per hour, with some as low as €0.25, highlighting significant underpricing.
• Revenue generated from increased parking fees would be reinvested into expanding public transportation, bike paths, and pedestrian infrastructure, according to DUH representatives.
• The DUH cites Paris as a model, where SUVs face parking fees of up to €18 per hour and some streets have been closed to car traffic to prioritize sustainable mobility.