Parking Upgrades: "Breakfast Briefs" Edition
Voting will be re-conducted on automated parking devices by FWG.
Wake up with the headlines delivered right to your inbox at 7:07 AM.
Subscribe here, it's on the house
In a surprising about-face, the Free Voters (FWG) coalition partnered with the Greens and SPD to scrap all parking machines and cash transactions. Now, they're floating a compromise: fresh machines that don't handle cash but accept EC cards. Those clinging to cold, hard cash can still purchase "tickets." This proposal initially tanked in the committee—until the FWG stepped in. Here's an insider scoop from FWG Bergisch Gladbach.
The FWG is all about giving citizens the freedom to pick their payment style when purchasing a parking pass. That's why they're pressing for the acquisition of new, user-friendly parking machines by January 1, 2026, that offer safe and easy contactless payment via debit/credit cards. This move ensures that few, if any, are left out when it comes to paying parking fees on the fly.
Expanding Horizons
In addition, parking via smartphones (aka "mobile parking") and cash will remain options. Embracing the city administration's previous committee proposal, this approach introduces a customer-friendly, minute-accurate billing and the convenience of extending parking times—perfect for unexpected wait times at the doc's office. Plus, it'll put a stop to vandalism and cash machine manipulation. The city treasury will also save around 100,000€ yearly, as cash collection will no longer be a time-consuming hassle, and maintenance costs for new machines will be reduced significantly.
In just three years, the cost of new machines will have paid off!
The FWG appreciates the public discourse and welcomes the call for varied payment options.
Aside from on-the-spot card payments, cash transactions will still be an option. Tickets will be available for purchase at various locations.
By offering tickets for sale, we can engage the local retail scene, making city center visits more appealing to customers by waiving parking fees for purchases. Here, the city administration should begin dialogues with local retail organizations.
These changes herald a more seamless, efficient parking experience for all. So cue the countdown to 2026—change is coming, and it's time to roll with it!
In the evolving landscape of politics and general-news, the Free Voters (FWG) coalition has proposed a new parking system that embraces contactless payments via debit/credit cards, showcasing their commitment to providing diverse payment options for citizens. Even with this shift towards digital payments, cash transactions will still be an alternative, with tickets available for purchase at various locations to strengthen the city's retail sector.
