Overview

• The Deutsche Umwelthilfe (DUH) has formally called for a minimum hourly parking fee of €3, equivalent to the cost of a single public transit ticket.
• The organization also seeks to abolish the 'Brötchentaste,' a policy offering free short-term parking in about one-third of surveyed cities.
• A recent DUH survey of 105 German cities revealed significant disparities in parking fees, with rates as low as €0.25 per hour in some areas and only two cities charging €3 or more.
• The DUH proposes reinvesting revenue from higher parking fees into public transport, cycling lanes, and pedestrian infrastructure to promote sustainable urban mobility.
• Political reactions vary: the Greens and the Left support the proposals, the Union and AfD oppose them, while the SPD and municipal groups emphasize local autonomy in setting parking policies.